Template directed preparation of TiO2 nanomaterials with tunable morphologies and their photocatalytic activity research

TiO2 nanomaterials with tunable morphologies including nanotubes, nanofibers–nanoparticles, and nanoparticles were fabricated using electrospun nanofibers as the template and ammonium as the additives. The morphologies and the crystallization of the obtained samples were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The formation mechanism was explored and it was supposed that the formation of tunable morphologies of the samples was realized by the hydrogen bonding interaction between the TiO2 precursor and the nanofibers, which can be modulated by the ammonium. The photocatalytic activities of the samples obtained under different circumstances were invested by degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) under the irradiation of mercury lamp of 300 W. The morphologies are in close relation with the photocatalytic activities. The nanotubes and nanoparticles exhibit similar and higher photocatalytic activities while the nanofibers–nanoparticles composites show lower one. The research work can provide some fundamental research for the photocatalysis area. Additionally, the fabrication method adopted here seems to be simple and can be easily extended to prepare other semiconductor materials.