Ionic-liquid-assisted growth of flower-like TiO2 film on Ti substrate with high photocatalytic activity

• Flower-like TiO2 film was prepared via oxidation of Ti in H2O2 with ionic liquid.
• Ionic liquid improved TiO2 crystal growth and formation of flower-like morphology.
• Flower-like TiO2 film enhanced both light harvesting and reactant adsorption.
• RhB solution was efficiently photo-degraded on TiO2 film in rotating disk reactor.
• Durability of TiO2 film indicated its stable combination with Ti substrate.

Flower-like anatase TiO2 films on Ti substrate were prepared via direct oxidation in H2O2 solution assisted with [Bmim]BF4 ionic liquid. The promotion effect of ionic liquid to both the growth of anatase TiO2 crystal and the formation of flower-like morphology was demonstrated. The formation process of flower-like TiO2 film was investigated via adjusting the oxidation reaction time. During the photo-degradation of aqueous rhodamine B solution under UV light (λ = 365 nm) in rotating disk reactor, the obtained flower-like TiO2 film exhibited efficient decomposition of rhodamine B, which could be contributed that the flower-like morphology of TiO2 film with high anatase crystallization and mesoporous structure led to the enhancement of light harvesting and reactant adsorption. Furthermore, the excellent stability of TiO2 film during the photo-degradation reaction was resulted from the stable combination of TiO2 film with Ti substrate.

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