One-Pot Synthesis of Titanate Nanotubes Decorated with Anatase Nanoparticles Using a Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Reaction

• Main Authors: Gusmão, Suziete B. S. (Author), Ghosh, Anupama (Author), Marques, Thalles M. F. (Author), Ferreira, Odair P. (Author), Lobo, Anderson Oliveira (Author), Osajima, Josy A. O. (Author), Luz-Lima, Cleanio (Author), Sousa, Romulo R. M. (Author), Matos, Jose M. E. (Author), Viana, Bartolomeu C. (Author)
• Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Chemistry (Contributor)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited, 2021-10-12T20:13:08Z.
• Subjects: Article
• Online Access: Get fulltext

 A nanoheterostructure of titanate nanotubes decorated with anatase nanoparticles (TiNT@AnNP) was synthesized for the first time by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal one-pot reaction. Characterization by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected-area electron diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed highly crystalline and nanometer-sized TiNT@AnNP. The synthesized TiNT@AnNP degraded an anionic dye (Remazol blue) more efficiently under UV-visible light (380-780 nm) than a commercial anatase-TiO2 precursor. We correlated this increased efficiency of photodegradation to the large surface area and the efficient separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. Finally, we propose a mechanism to highlight the influence of a microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis in the production of TiNT@AnNP for environmental applications.