Solvothermal synthesis of soluble, surface modified anatase and transition metal doped anatase hybrid nanocrystals. Issue 24 (17th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bathe, A. S.; Sanz Arjona, A.; Regan, A.; Wallace, C.; Nerney, C. R.; O'Donoghue, N.; Crosland, J. M.; Simonian, T.; Walton, R. I.; Dunne, P. W.
• Is Part Of: Nanoscale advances. Volume 4:Issue 24(2022)
• Page Start: 5343
• Page End: 5354
• Publication Date: 2022-11-17
• Subjects: 620.5
• DOI: 10.1039/d2na00640e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2516-0230

Abstract

Abstract : Solvothermal treatment of amorphous titania in trifluoroacetic acid modifies the surface and crystallises the anatase phase, yielding dispersible hybrid nanocrystals. Abstract : Titanium dioxide, or titania, is perhaps the most well-known and widely studied photocatalytic material, with myriad applications, due to a high degree of tunability achievable through the incorporation of dopants and control of phase composition and particle size. Many of the applications of titanium dioxide require particular forms, such as gels, coatings, or thin films, making the development of hybrid solution processable nanoparticles increasingly attractive. Here we report a simple solvothermal route to highly dispersible anatase phase titanium dioxide hybrid nanoparticles from amorphous titania. Solvothermal treatment of the amorphous titania in trifluoroacetic acid leads to the formation of anatase phase nanoparticles with a high degree of size control and near complete surface functionalisation. This renders the particles highly dispersible in simple organic solvents such as acetone. Dopant ions may be readily incorporated into the amorphous precursor by co-precipitation, with no adverse effect on subsequent crystallisation and surface modification.