Flexible supercapacitor electrodes based on TiO2/rGO/TiO2 sandwich type hybrids

The flexible nanostructured supercapacitors have gained vast majority of interests during recent years. In this article, flexible supercapacitor electrode based on TiO₂/rGO/TiO₂ sandwich is fabricated through a facile low cost solution process method based on pre-synthesized vapor assisted GO paper and titania sol. The XRD and FTIR spectroscopy analyses confirm the in-situ reduction of GO paper when faced with the titania sol. The Raman spectroscopy shows the coexistence of titania anatase phase beside rGO layers. Moreover, FESEM analysis demonstrates that the sandwich electrodes are composed of titania and rGO layers with thickness of about 660 nm and 15 µm, respectively. The optimum parameter for film deposition is 0.17 M concentration, water to Ti precursor ratio of 4, acid catalyst to Ti precursor ratio of 0.5, and solvent of 1-propanol. The supercapacitor electrode based on this optimum deposited sandwich illustrates capacitance of 83.7 F/g at scan rate of 5 mV/s and appreciable charge-discharge behavior. These hybrid pseudo- and electric double layer capacitance behavior in this supercapacitor not only can dramatically improve the performance of the future energy storage devices but also can be applicable in cost-effective wearable electronics.     

Use of functionalized WS2 nanotubes to produce new polystyrene/polymethylmethacrylate nanocomposites

Multiwall WS₂ nanotubes of 40-50 nm diameter were functionalized with n-octadecyl phosphonic acid by sonication in toluene and blended with mixtures of polystyrene (PS) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) to form new nanocomposite (NC) materials. The surface and domain structures were studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for various levels of loading of nanotubes up to 20 wt%. Phase-separated domain size and surface roughness of the nanocomposite films were found to be dramatically reduced relative to the pure homopolymer blend and good dispersal of the nanotubes in the blend matrix was attained.     

Preparation of Cu2O/TiO2 composite porous carbon microspheres as efficient visible light-responsive photocatalysts

In this paper, Cu₂O/TiO₂ composite porous microspheres were prepared in the absence of templates and additives by a simple hydrothermal method using Cu(CH₃COO)₂·H₂O and (NH₄)₂TiF₆ as precursors. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated by the photo-degradation of methylene blue (MB) aqueous solution under the visible-light illumination. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the preparation and photocatalytic activity of Cu₂O/TiO₂ composite porous microspheres with a template-free hydrothermal method. This work may provide new insights into preparing other inorganic porous microspheres.     

Excellent antimicrobial properties of mesoporous anatase TiO2 and Ag/TiO2 composite films

Optically transparent, crack-free, mesoporous anatase TiO₂ thin films were fabricated. The Ag/TiO₂ composite films were prepared by incorporating Ag in the pores of TiO₂ films with an impregnation method via photoreduction. The as-prepared composite films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectronic spectra (XPS) and N₂ adsorption. The release behavior of silver ions in the mesoporous composite film was also studied. Moreover, the antimicrobial behaviors of the mesoporous film were also investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The antibacterial activities of the composite films were studied by a fluorescence label method using Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a model. The as-prepared mesoporous TiO₂ films showed much higher antimicrobial efficiency than that of glass and commercial P25 TiO₂ spinning film. The facts would result from the high surface area, small crystal size and more active sites for the mesoporous catalysis. After the doping of Ag, a significant improvement for the antimicrobial ability was obtained. To elucidate the roles of the membrane photocatalyst and the doped silver in the antimicrobial activity, cells from a silver-resistant E. coli were used. These results indicated that Ag nanoparticles in the mesoporous were not only an antimicrobial but also an intensifier for photocatalysis. The as-prepared mesoporous composite film is promising in application of photocatalysis, antimicrobial and self-clean technologies.     

A novel two-step method to synthesize lotus-leaf-structured TiO2 nanocrystals with good photocatalytic activity

Lotus-leaf-structured TiO₂ nanocrystals were prepared by a novel simple two-step method. TiO₂ nanocrystals obtained by two-step method exhibited better photocatalytic activity than the as-prepared TiO₂ nanocrystal obtained by one-step liquid phase deposition method. Even compared with commercial TiO₂ photocatalyst with the smaller average size (~ 7 nm), lotus-leaf-structured TiO₂ nanocrystals exhibited better photocatalytic activity. The possible reason for the good photocatalytic activity was also investigated.     

Synthesis and electrochemiluminescence of the CeO2/TiO2 composite

CeO₂/TiO₂ composite with kernel–shell structure was synthesized by a sol–gel process. The characterization results show that the composite is made up of anatase phase TiO₂ and cubic system CeO₂. The electrochemiluminescence (ECL) behavior of the CeO₂/TiO₂ composite was studied by a cyclic voltammetry in the presence of persulfate, and the effect factors on ECL emission were discussed. Based on a series of experiments, it is proposed that the strong dual ECL emission produced by the CeO₂/TiO₂ composite resulted from the benefit ECL effect of interface heterojunction in composite.     

TiO2-SiO2复合材料应用研究进展

无机材料TiO₂和SiO₂因稳定性好、无毒害等性能得到广泛关注和应用,TiO₂-SiO₂复合材料因TiO₂和SiO₂组分的协同作用,表现出更加优异的性能。综述TiO₂-SiO₂复合材料在药物缓释、光催化、吸附、抗菌等相关应用领域中的研究进展,以期为其后续研究提供参考。     

TiO2, TiO2/Ag and TiO2/Au photocatalysts prepared by spray pyrolysis

TiO₂, TiO₂/Ag and TiO₂/Au photocatalysts exhibiting a hollow spherical morphology were prepared by spray pyrolysis of aqueous solutions of titanium citrate complex and titanium oxalate precursors in one-step. Effects of precursor concentration and spray pyrolysis temperature were investigated. By subsequent heat treatment, photocatalysts with phase compositions from 10 to 100% rutile and crystallite sizes from 12 to 120 nm were obtained. A correlation between precursor concentration and size of the hollow spherical agglomerates obtained during spray pyrolysis was established. The anatase to rutile transformation was enhanced with metal incorporations and increased precursor concentration. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by oxidation of methylene blue under UV-irradiation. As-prepared TiO₂ particles with large amounts of amorphous phase and organic residuals showed similar photocatalytic activity as the commercial Degussa P25. The metal incorporated samples showed comparable photocatalytic activity to the pure TiO₂ photocatalysts.     

基于氧化铁/生物质碳复合材料的高性能超级电容器研究

为改善碳材料比电容低的问题以及氧化铁（Fe₂O₃）导电性和循环稳定性差的问题,采用氧化铁修饰生物质衍生碳（ATC）表面制备氧化铁/生物质碳（Fe₂O₃/ATC）复合材料,通过氧化铁和生物质衍生碳的协同效应使复合材料获得更高的比电容和更好的稳定性。利用扫描电镜（SEM）、X射线光电子能谱（XPS）、拉曼（Raman）光谱等技术手段对样品进行了表征。结果表明,制备的复合材料存在一定的孔隙结构,氧化铁纳米粒子被锚定在碳表面。当氧化铁和生物质衍生碳的质量比为1:1时,制备的复合材料具有最优的电化学性能,在3.0 mol/L氢氧化钾溶液中显示出430.8 F/g（电流密度约为1.0 A/g）的高比电容,电流密度增大20倍时电容保持率大于60%。将其作为负极构建的不对称超级电容器具有较高的电压窗口（0~1.6 V）,并且实现了39.1 W·h/kg的高能量密度;同时表现出优异的循环稳定性,在电流密度为10 A/g下循环5 000次后拥有111%的电容保持率。     

Effect of shape and surface chemistry of TiO2 colloidal nanocrystals on the organic vapor absorption capacity of TiO2/PMMA composite

The organic vapor absorption capacity of poly(methyl metacrylate) (PMMA), filled with oleic acid (OLEA) capped TiO₂ nanocrystals (NCs) with curved shape, rod-like and spherical, is studied. The NC shape combined with the nature of the capping molecules can be used to enhance or reduce the PMMA ability to absorb different solvent molecules in a controlled way. Indeed, the arrangement of the ligands at the NC surface demonstrates an effective tool to control the extent of the interaction between the penetrating molecules and the embedded NCs from the outer to the inner specific chemical functionality of the coordinating ligand molecules.     

Photocatalytic activity of Cu2O/TiO2, Bi2O3/TiO2 and ZnMn2O4/TiO2 heterojunctions

Cu₂O/TiO₂, Bi₂O₃/TiO₂ and ZnMn₂O₄/TiO₂ heterojunctions were studied for potential applications in water decontamination technology and their capacity to induce an oxidation process under VIS light. UV–vis spectroscopy analysis showed that the junctions-based Cu₂O, Bi₂O₃ and ZnMn₂O₄ are able to absorb a large part of visible light (respectively, up to 650, 460 and 1000 nm). This fact was confirmed in the case of Cu₂O/TiO₂ and Bi₂O₃/TiO₂ by photocatalytic experiments performed under visible light. A part of the charge recombination that can take place when both semiconductors are excited was observed when a photocatalytic experiment was performed under UV–vis illumination. Orange II, 4-hydroxybenzoic and benzamide were used as pollutants in the experiment. Photoactivity of the junctions was found to be strongly dependent on the substrate. The different phenomena that were observed in each case are discussed.     

The effect of TiO2 additive on sinterability and properties of SiC-Al2O3-Y2O3 composite system

In the current research, the effects of TiO₂ additive on mechanical and physical properties of SiC bodies, sintered by liquid phase methods were investigated. Al₂O₃ and Y₂O₃ were used as sintering-aids (10?wt% in total) with an Al₂O₃/Y₂O₃ ratio of 43/57 to provide liquid phase during Sintering. TiO₂ was also used as the oxide additive with an amount ranging from 0 to 10?wt%. After scaling and mixing the starting materials by a planetary mill, the obtained slurry was dried at 100?℃ for four hours. The derived powders were finally pressed under a pressure of 90?MPa. The samples were then pyrolyzed and sintered at 600?℃ and 1900?℃, respectively under argon atmosphere for 1.5?h. Phase analysis showed no trace of TiO₂ after the sintering process, demonstrating the complete TiO₂ to TiC transformation. The results showed that an increase in TiO₂ content up to 5?wt%, led an improvement in all the measured properties including the relative density, hardness, Young's modulus, bending strength, indentation fracture resistance and the brittleness factor, reaching to 96.2%, 24.4?GPa, 395.8?GPa, 521?MPa, 5.8?MPa?m^1/2 and 286.5?×?10^?6 m^?1, respectively. However more than 5?wt% additive resulted in a decrease in all the above-mentioned properties. Microstructural studies demonstrated that crack deflection and crack bridging were the major mechanisms responsible for an increase in the indentation fracture resistance.     

水基纳米TiO_2路径制备有序介孔TiO_2-SiO_2及其可见光催化性能

在多巴胺修饰的水基TiO_2纳米微粒(TiO_2NPs)悬浮液中,以正硅酸乙酯为硅源,十六烷基三甲基溴化铵为模板剂,分别采用碱性水热方法或酸性溶胶-凝胶方法,制备了有序介孔TiO_2-SiO_2(TiO_2NPs/MCM-41或TiO_2NPs/SBA-3)。采用XRD、TEM、ICP和N2吸附-脱附实验对样品进行表征。结果表明,制备的介孔TiO_2-SiO_2在TiO_2高负载质量分数(23.98%TiO_2NPs/MCM-41、17.27%TiO_2NPs/SBA-3)时,仍能保持长程有序的介孔氧化硅结构。TiO_2NPs随机地嵌入在有序介孔氧化硅孔道所组成的网络结构中。在可见光下催化甲基橙降解反应中,反应时间120 min时,在P25上甲基橙相对浓度降为57%,在TiO_2NPs/MCM-41上降为33%,而在TiO_2NPs/SBA-3上降为5.7%。     

TiO2与TiO2—SiO2薄膜的表面性质及生物活性研究

采用溶胶－凝胶法在医用NiTi形状记忆合金表面制备了TiO2与TiO2-SiO2薄膜,用X射线（XRD）,红外光谱（FT－IR）,X射线光电子能谱（XPS）和原子力显微镜（AFM）对薄膜的表面组成,结构与形貌进行了研究,将表面涂有薄膜的试样浸入模拟体液（SBF）,用XPS分析Ca,P在薄膜表面的沉积情况,结果表明：TiO2-SiO2人有比TiO2膜更高的生物活性,主要原因是TiO2-SiO2薄膜表面存在较多的羟基基团,在模拟体液中诱导磷灰石沉积的能力较高,此外,薄膜的表面形貌对其生物活性也有一定的影响。     

g-C3N4基复合纳米材料光催化性能研究进展

g-C₃N₄可见光利用率高,具有非常好的光催化性能,是一种新型的无金属半导体光催化材料,然而电导率低,易团聚,光生载流子容易复合限制了其在实际生产中的应用。为进一步提高g-C₃N₄基复合材料的光催化性能,研究者做了大量修饰工作,并取得显著成果。本文主要从半导体材料耦合(细分为原子层沉积法和三元纳米材料复合)、贵金属修饰和量子点敏化三个方面概括了近年来对g-C₃N₄的修饰改性工作,探究了g-C₃N₄基复合材料在光催化降解有机污染物、光解水制氢、催化“记忆”效应和降解重金属等不同领域方面取得的成效。指出g-C₃N₄基复合材料发展面临的问题,最后对g-C₃N₄基复合材料未来的发展提出了展望。     

Effect of TiO2 supporting layer on Fe2O3 photoanode for efficient water splitting

For an electrochemical water splitting system, titanate nanotubular particles with a thickness of ∼700 nm produced by a hydrothermal process were repetitively coated on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass via layer-by-layer self-assembly method. The obtained titanate/FTO films were dipped in aqueous Fe solution, followed by heat treatment for crystallization at 500 °C for 10 min in air. The UV–vis absorbance of the Fe-oxide/titanate/FTO film showed a red-shifted spectrum compared with the TiO₂/FTO coated film; this red shift was achieved by the formation of thin hematite-Fe₂O₃ and anatase-TiO₂ phases verified using X-ray diffraction and Raman results. The cyclic voltammetry results of the Fe₂O₃/TiO₂/FTO films showed distinct reversible cycle characteristics with large oxidation–reduction peaks with low onset voltage of I–V characteristics under UV–vis light illumination. The prepared Fe₂O₃/TiO₂/FTO film showed much higher photocurrent densities for more efficient water splitting under UV–vis light illumination than did the Fe₂O₃/FTO film. Its maximum photocurrent was almost 3.5 times higher than that obtained with Fe₂O₃/FTO film because of the easy electron collection in the current collector. The large current collection was due to the existence of a TiO₂ base layer beneath the Fe₂O₃ layer.     

Combined TiO2/SiO2 mesoporous photocatalysts with location and phase controllable TiO2 nanoparticles

Combined TiO₂/SiO₂ mesoporous materials were prepared by deposition of TiO₂ nanoparticles synthesised via the acid-catalysed sol–gel method. In the first synthesis step a titania solution is prepared, by dissolving titaniumtetraisopropoxide in nitric acid. The influences of the initial titaniumtetraisopropoxide concentration and the temperature of dissolving on the final structural properties were investigated. In the second step of the synthesis, the titania nanoparticles were deposited on a silica support. Here, the influence of the temperature during deposition was studied. The depositions were carried out on two different mesoporous silica supports, SBA-15 and MCF, leading to substantial differences in the catalytic and structural properties. The samples were analysed with N₂-sorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to obtain structural information, determining the amount of titania, the crystal phase and the location of the titania particles on the mesoporous material (inside or outside the mesoporous channels). The structural differences of the support strongly determine the location of the nanoparticles and the subsequent photocatalytic activity towards the degradation of rhodamine 6G in aqueous solution under UV irradiation.     

Low temperature preparation of nanocrystalline SrTiO3 and BaTiO3 from alkaline earth nitrates and TiO2 nanocrystals

Using low-melting-point Sr(NO₃)₂ (melting point: 570 °C) and high-reactive-activity TiO₂ nanocrystals (Degussa P25 TiO₂) as the raw materials, phase-pure SrTiO₃ nanocrystals were prepared at 600 °C. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the as-prepared products were cubic phase SrTiO₃ with a surface composition of Sr_0.97TiO_2.92. Transmission electron microscopy image showed that the as-prepared SrTiO₃ comprised nanocrystals with the size of about 24-44 nm. UV-vis absorption spectrum of the as-prepared SrTiO₃ nanocrystals displayed a wide absorption peak centered at around 365 nm (3.4 eV), together with a tail at the lower energy side. This kind of low temperature and cost-effective method can also be extended to prepare BaTiO₃ nanocrystals, simply by substituting Ba(NO₃)₂ for Sr(NO₃)₂.     

TiO2基催化剂还原CO2研究进展

能源危机和环境污染是当今世界发展面临的两大挑战,如何有效缓解煤、石油等不可再生化石资源过度消耗所引发的能源危机,以及由此造成CO₂过量排放引起的温室效应问题,是当前人类发展亟待解决的重大科学问题之一。基于此,本文综述了近年来以TiO₂为光催化剂,以绿色、清洁的太阳光能催化还原CO₂成低价态含碳燃料(如CH₄、CH₃OH、HCHO、HCOOH、C₂H₅OH等)研究进展。在TiO₂光还原CO₂机理基础上,对元素掺杂、半导体复合与染料敏化、高活性晶面调控、低维纳米结构设计、助催化剂、Z型结构设计和单原子催化等方法来提高光还原CO₂反应效率和选择性进行分析,并指出目前研究存在的关键问题和未来CO₂光还原的发展方向。     

Dye-sensitized solar cells based on double-layered TiO2 composite films and enhanced photovoltaic performance

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are fabricated based on double-layered composite films of TiO₂ nanoparticles and hollow spheres. The photoelectric conversion performances of DSSCs based on nanoparticles/nanoparticles (PP), hollow spheres/hollow spheres (HH), hollow spheres/nanoparticles (HP), and nanoparticles/hollow spheres (PH) double-layered films are investigated, and their photo-electric conversion efficiencies are 4.33, 4.72, 4.93 and 5.28%, respectively. The enhanced performance of TiO₂ nanoparticles/hollow spheres double-layered composite film solar cells can be attributed to the combined effect of following factors. The light scattering of overlayer hollow spheres enhances harvesting light of the DSSCs and the underlayer TiO₂ nanoparticle layer ensures good electronic contact between film electrode and the F-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate. Furthermore, the high surface areas and pore volume of TiO₂ hollow spheres are respectively beneficial to adsorption of dye molecules and transfer of electrolyte solution.