Glycine assisted synthesis of flower-like TiO2 hierarchical spheres and its application in photocatalysis

Flower-like anatase TiO2 hierarchical spheres assembled by nanosheets were synthesized by glycine assistant via a simple hydrothermal approach and after-annealing process. These flower-like spheres are about 2 μm in diameter with sheet thickness about 20 nm. Results showed reaction time, temperature, solution pH and glycine dosage all played an important role in control of shape and size of the as-synthesized TiO2 nanocrystals. The photocatalytic activity of this nano-TiO2 was evaluated by the photocatalytic oxidation decomposition of methyl orange under sunlight illumination in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The photocatalytic activity of the obtained TiO2 was higher than that of commercial TiO2.