Nanowire-structured titanate with anatase titania: Characterization and photocatalytic activity

Nanowire-structured titanate with titanium(IV) oxide (titania) was obtained by calcination of potassium ion-containing titanate nanowires prepared through alkali treatment of titania nanoparticles. The presence of potassium ions in the as-synthesized titanate nanowires was required for maintenance of the nanowire structure under the conditions of post-heat treatment. The crystallite structure, composition, morphology, specific surface area, pore volume distribution, and optical properties were found to be dependent on the temperature at which titanate nanowires were calcined. Photocatalytic activity was examined using three probe reactions: oxidative decomposition of acetic acid in an aqueous solution, oxygen liberation from an aqueous silver sulfate solution, and hydrogen liberation from an aqueous methanol solution in the presence of hexachloroplatinic acid as a precursor of photodeposition of platinum particles. Detailed characterization and results of photocatalytic activity tests revealed that titanate crystallites greatly contributed to the photocatalytic activities of the calcined nanowires except for photocatalytic hydrogen liberation. It was found that platinum was preferentially photodeposited on anatase crystallites rather than on titanate crystallites for hydrogen liberation.