Catalytic properties of titania nanotube prepared by simple refluxing method

Cost effective, well crystallized zigzag titania nanotubes have been prepared by utilizing a high crystalline titanium dioxide nanopowder and refluxing it into a 10 M KOH solution at 160 °C for 18 h under atmospheric pressure. These nanotubes possess a diameter of ca. 23 nm and average length of 600 nm and have a rough surface all around with BET surface area of 58 m2/g. The prepared nanotube shows high crystal intensity of the anatase peak (101) almost five times compared to the hydrothermally synthesized nanotubes (12 nm in diameter, surface area of 87 m2/g). Using a model reaction, the photocatalytic performances in aqueous solution were carried out under UV-irradiation and it was observed that nanotubes prepared by the refluxing method shows superior photocatalytic decoloration efficiency (79%) of methyl orange compared to the hydrothermally driven nanotubes and nanocrystals (45%). The prepared catalysts were analyzed by FE-SEM, XRD, UV–vis DRS spectra and BET surface area techniques.