Study of TiO2 anatase nano and microstructures with dominant {001} facets for NO oxidation.
BACKGROUND
TiO(2) anatase nanoplates and hollow microspheres were fabricated by a solvothermal-hydrothermal method using titanium isopropoxide as a titanium precursor and hydrofluoric acid as a capping agent in order to enhance the formation of the {001} crystal facets of the anatase nanocrystals.


METHODS
These different morphological structures of TiO(2) anatase can be achieved by only changing the solvent, keeping the amount of the precursor and of the capping agent identical during the solvothermal-hydrothermal process.


CONCLUSIONS
After calcination of the samples, the adsorbed fluoride atoms on the {001} crystal facets of the TiO(2) anatase nanocrystals were completely removed from their surface according to XPS analysis. The calcined TiO(2) anatase structures were higher crystallized and the specific surface area of the catalysts increased, enhancing their photocatalytic activity in comparison to the non-calcined TiO(2) anatase structures. All TiO(2) anatase samples with adsorbed as well as non-adsorbed fluoride atoms on their {001} crystal facets, exhibited a higher photonic efficiency than Degussa P25, which was used as a reference.


CONCLUSIONS
The fluoride free TiO(2) anatase nanoplates exhibited the best photocatalytic activity in oxidizing the NO gas to NO(2) and NO(3)                             (-).
Institute of Materials Science, NCSR Demokritos, 153 10, Ag. Paraskevi, Athens, Attikis, Greece.
Maria-Veronica
MV
Sofianou
Christos
C
Trapalis
Vassils
V
Psycharis
Nikos
N
Boukos
Tiverios
T
Vaimakis
Jiaguo
J
Yu
Wenguang
W
Wang
D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium