Photocatalytic activity of solvothermally synthesized rutile TiO2 nanorods for the removal of water contaminants

The TiO2 nanorods are synthesized via a solvothermal route by varying reaction temperatures. The XRD analysis reveals that the synthesized TiO2 nanorods grown with rutile phase with a 14 to 26 nm average crystallite size. The FESEM and HRTEM analysis confirmed the rod-like shape of the synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles, which grew in the same direction. In addition, the EDS analysis revealed the titanium-oxygen elemental ratio is equal to 1:2, confirming the stoichiometry of the grown sample. The UV–vis analysis of TiO2 nanorods shows a red shift in the band gap with a rising temperature. The TiO2 nanorods synthesized at 180 °C (T2) achieves methyl orange and rhodamine B degradation up to 90 and 97% within 50 and 60 min, respectively, under 125 W mercury light irradiation. Since the T2 sample has a high surface area, small crystallite size and a narrow band gap, it significantly affects the photodegradation of methyl orange and rhodamine B dye.