title: Anatase/rutile bi-phasic titanium dioxide nanoparticles for photocatalytic applications enhanced by nitrogen doping and platinum nano-islands.
abstract: Titanium dioxide (TiO2) bi-phasic powders with individual particles containing an anatase and rutile hetero-junction have been prepared using a sequential layer sol-gel deposition technique to soluble substrates. Sequential thin films of rutile and subsequently anatase TiO2 were deposited onto sodium chloride substrates yielding extremely fragile composite layered discs that fractured into "Janus-like" like powders on substrate dissolution. Nitrogen doped and platinum sputtered analogues were also prepared, and analysed for photocatalytic potential using the photodegradation of Rhodamine B, a model organic pollutant under UV and visible light irradiation. The materials were characterised using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. This paper sheds light on the relationship between anatase and rutile materials when in direct contact and demonstrates a robust method for the synthesis of bi-phasic nanoparticles, ostensibly of any two materials, for photocatalytic reactions or otherwise.
authors: Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI), College of Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus, Fabian Way Swansea SA1 8EN, UK.
authors: Joseph C
authors: JC
authors: Bear
authors: Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI), College of Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus, Fabian Way Swansea SA1 8EN, UK.
authors: Virginia
authors: V
authors: Gomez
authors: Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI), College of Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus, Fabian Way Swansea SA1 8EN, UK.
authors: Nikolaos S
authors: NS
authors: Kefallinos
authors: SPECIFIC, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Baglan Bay Innovation and Knowledge Centre, Central Avenue, Baglan, Port Talbot SA12 7AX, UK.
authors: James D
authors: JD
authors: McGettrick
authors: Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI), College of Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus, Fabian Way Swansea SA1 8EN, UK; Department of Materials Science and Nanoengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
authors: Andrew R
authors: AR
authors: Barron
authors: Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI), College of Engineering, Swansea University, Bay Campus, Fabian Way Swansea SA1 8EN, UK. Electronic address: c.dunnill@swansea.ac.uk.
authors: Charles W
authors: CW
authors: Dunnill
keywords: Bi-phasic; Nanoparticle; Photocatalysis; Titania; Water purification