Sol–gel synthesis of 2-dimensional TiO2: self-assembly of Ti–oxoalkoxy–acetate complexes by carboxylate ligand directed condensation. (9th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sui, Ruohong; Deering, Connor E.; Prinsloo, Rohen; Lavery, Christopher B.; Chou, Nancy; Marriott, Robert A.
• Is Part Of: Faraday discussions. Volume 227(2021)
• Page Start: 125
• Page End: 140
• Publication Date: 2020-12-09
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; Metallurgy -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/c9fd00108e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-6640

Abstract

Abstract : 2-Dimensional TiO2 is synthesized for the first time by a sol–gel self-assembly of Ti–oxoalkoxy–acetate complexes. Abstract : 2-Dimensional (2D) metal oxides have many potential industrial applications including heterogeneous catalysis, water splitting, renewable energy conversion, supercapacitor applications, biomaterials, gas separation and gas storage. Herein we report a simple and scalable method for the preparation of 2D TiO2 nanostructures by reaction of titanium isopropoxide with acetic acid at 333 K in isopropanol, followed by calcination at 673 K to remove the organic ligands. Both the products and reaction intermediates have been studied using electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, N2 physisorption, nuclear magnetic resonance, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron, Raman, and infrared spectroscopy. The anisotropic condensation of the planar Ti6 O4 (O i Pr)8 (OAc)8 complex is believed to be responsible for the formation of the 2D structure, where O i Pr and OAc represent isopropoxide and acetate ligands, respectively. This research demonstrates that the metal complexes are promising building blocks for desired architectures, and the self-assembly of an acetate bidentate ligand is a versatile tool for manipulating the shape of final products.