Hollow TiO2 microspheres assembled with rutile mesocrystals: Low-temperature one-pot synthesis and the photocatalytic performance

Hollow TiO2 microspheres assembled with rutile mesocrystal nanorods were precipitated directly from a mixed aqueous solution of K2TiO(C2O4)2, H2O2 and HNO3 at a low temperature of 80 °C. The hollow microspheres consisted of rutile mesocrystal nanorods with an average diameter of 200 nm and length of 500 nm. The morphology evolution upon the reaction duration suggests that the microstructure is formed through a hydrolysis–dissolution–precipitation procedure. The unique nanostructure of the hollow microspheres showed remarkable photocatalytic activity in photodegrading rhodamine B in water under the UV light illumination.