Synthesis and characterization of cage-like core-shell structured TiO2 hollow microspheres

Cage-like core-shell structured TiO2 hollow microspheres have been fabricated by a simple procedure consisting of solvothermal synthesis and post-synthesis calcination. The structure and morphology were investigated by XRD, SEM, UV, and EDS. XRD and EDS studies indicated that the as-prepared products were well-crystallized anatase phase of TiO2. SEM images showed that the TiO2 samples were of cage-like hollow structures with a diameter of about 1 to 2 μm. The mean diameter of the cores of those spheres is about 400 nm. UV-vis spectrum reveals that the band gap energy of the cage-like core-shell structured TiO2 hollow microspheres were about 3.375 eV. The as-prepared TiO2 samples showed excellent photocatalytic activity, which was evaluated by the degradation of RhB dye under ultraviolet light irradiation.