TiO₂ nanomaterials were prepared by a sol-gel derived electrospinning, calcination from 500°C to 650°C, and subsequent mechanical grinding to investigate the effect of calcination temperature on crystal structure, crystallinity, and photocatalytic activity of methylene blue (MB). XRD results indicated that TiO₂ nanorods calcined at 500°C is composed of anatase TiO₂ only. However, mixed crystals of anatase and rutile were observed for TiO₂ calcined above 550°C. Higher MB degradation was found for the TiO₂ nanorods calcined at 550°C probably due to the mixed crystals and larger surface area. However, the improved photocatalytic activity was achieved for TiO₂ nanotube due to the synergic combinations of mixed crystals, larger specific surface area, and light trapping effect.

Date Published: 15 April 2016
PDF: 5 pages
Proc. SPIE 9798, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2016, 97982N (15 April 2016); doi: 10.1117/12.2217884

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9798:
Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2016
Yoseph Bar-Cohen; Frédéric Vidal, Editor(s)