title: The Reductive Dehydration of Cellulose by Solid/Gas Reaction with TiCl4at Low Temperature: A Cheap, Simple, and Green Process for Preparing Anatase Nanoplates and TiO2/C Composites.
abstract: Metal oxides and metal oxide/carbon composites are entering the development of new technologies and should therefore to be prepared by sustainable chemistry processes. Therefore, a new aspect of the reactivity of cellulose is presented through its solid/gas reaction with vapour of titanium(IV) chloride in anhydrous conditions at low temperature (80 °C). This reaction leads to two transformations both for cellulose and titanium(IV) chloride. A reductive dehydration of cellulose is seen at the lowest temperature ever reported and results in the formation of a carbonaceous fibrous solid as the only carbon-containing product. Simultaneously, the in situ generation of water leads to the formation of titanium dioxide with an unexpected nanoplate morphology (ca. 50 nm thickness) and a high photocatalytic activity. We present the evidence showing the evolution of the cellulose and the TiO2nanostructure formation, along with its photocatalytic activity. This low-temperature process avoids any other reagents and is among the greenest processes for the preparation of anatase and also for TiO2/carbon composites. The anisotropic morphology of TiO2questions the role of the cellulose on the growing process of these nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Institut Européen des Membranes UMR 5635, CNRS-ENSCM-UM, CC 047, University of Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plumejeau
authors.affiliation: Institut Européen des Membranes UMR 5635, CNRS-ENSCM-UM, CC 047, University of Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivallin
authors.affiliation: Institut Européen des Membranes UMR 5635, CNRS-ENSCM-UM, CC 047, University of Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brosillon
authors.affiliation: Institut Européen des Membranes UMR 5635, CNRS-ENSCM-UM, CC 047, University of Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayral
authors.affiliation: CERMAV-CNRS, 601 rue de la Chimie, St Martin d'Hères, 38041, Grenoble Cedex 9, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heux
authors.affiliation: Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier UMR 5253 CNRS-UM-ENSCM, CMOS, University of Montpellier, Place E. Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boury
keywords: carbon; cellulose; dehydration; nanostructures; photocatalysis