Crystallization kinetics and phase transformations in aluminium ion-implanted electrospun TiO2 nanofibers

Electrospun TiO2 nanofibers were implanted with aluminum ions, and their crystallization kinetics, phase transformations, and activation energies were investigated from 25 to 900 °C by in situ high-temperature synchrotron radiation diffraction. The amorphous non-implanted and Al ion-implanted TiO2 nanofibers transformed to crystalline anatase at 600 °C and to rutile at 700 °C. The TiO2 phase transformation of the Al ion-implanted material was accelerated relative to non-implanted sample. Compared with non-implanted nanofibers, the Al-implanted materials yielded a decreased activation energies from 69(17) to 29(2) kJ/mol for amorphous-to-anatase transformation and from 112(15) to 129(5) kJ/mol for anatase-to-rutile transformation. A substitution of smaller Al ions for Ti in the TiO2 crystal structure results in accelerated titania phase transformation and a concomitant reduction in the activation energies

Hydrogen peroxide route to Sn-doped titania photocatalysts

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The work aims at improving photocatalytic activity of titania under Vis light irradiation using modification by Sn ions and an original, simple synthesis method. Tin-doped titania catalysts were prepared by thermal hydrolysis of aqueous solutions of titanium peroxo-complexes in the presence of SnCl₄ or SnCl₂ using an original, proprietary "one pot" synthesis not employing organic solvents, metallo-organic precursors, autoclave aging nor post-synthesis calcination. The products were characterized in details by powder diffraction, XPS, UV–vis, IR, and Raman spectroscopies, electron microscopy and surface area and porosity measurements</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The presence of tin in synthesis mixtures favors the formation of rutile and brookite at the expense of anatase, decreases the particle size of all formed titania polymorphs, and extends light absorption of titania to visible light region >400 nm by both red shift of the absorption edge and introduction of new chromophores. The photocatalytic activity of titania under UV irradiation and >400 nm light was tested by decomposition kinetics of Orange II dye in aqueous solution</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Doping by Sn improves titania photoactivity under UV light and affords considerable photoactivity under >400 nm light due to increased specific surface area and a phase heterogeneity of the Sn-doped titania powders.</p