TiO2 nano-flakes with high activity obtained from phosphorus doped TiO2 nanoparticles by hydrothermal method

TiO2 nano-wires (Ti-NWs) and nano-flakes (Ti-NFs) were obtained from phosphorus doped TiO2 nanoparticles (Ti-P) by hydrothermal method and by subsequent heat treatment respectively. FE-SEM micrograph of the as prepared sample depicts well formed, entangled and randomly oriented nano-wires morphology, which changes to nano-flakes morphology after heat treatment. Structural characterization of the samples by X-ray diffraction shows anatase phase for both the samples. Absorption edge of the Ti-NWs sample shows blueshift where as the Ti-NFs sample exhibit redshift compared to precursor sample as evidenced by UV–Visible absorption spectra, which is due to change in morphology and crystallinity of the samples. XPS studies indicate the presence of titanium and oxygen species only. From the EPR measurements with in-situ visible light irradiation, the number of photogenerated charge carriers is found to be very high for nano-flakes sample. Methyleneblue degradation profiles depict very high activity of Ti-NFs sample compared to Ti-NWs and the precursor samples, which is due to the observed redshift in the absorption edge, change in morphology and high crystallinity of the sample which in turn increases the optical response and separation of photogenerated charge carriers as evidenced by the optical and EPR measurements respectively.