Comparative study of potassium hexatitanate (K2Ti6O13) whiskers prepared by sol-gel and solid state reaction routes

Polycrystalline phases of the potassium hexatitanate (K2Ti6O13) were synthesized by conventional solid state reaction and sol-gel methods with a view to compare structural, electrical, optical and photocatalytic properties. Single phase K2Ti6O13 prepared by sol-gel method (PSG) revealed higher value of dielectric constant than same obtained by the solid state reaction method (PSS), attributed to smaller particle size in sol-gel method. Band gap (3.48 eV) of K2Ti6O13 prepared by sol-gel method was found higher than (3.06 eV), obtained in solid state reaction method. Additionally, K2Ti6O13 was tested as photocatalyst on the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under UV light and found better activity for sample PSG. Morphological characteristic exhibited formation of nanorods in sol-gel route and formation of microrods in solid state reaction method.

► K2Ti6O13 whiskers are prepared through sol-gel (PSG) and by solid state reaction route (PSS). ► K2Ti6O13 (PSG) exposing nanorods while K2Ti6O13 (PSS) reveals microrods. ► Dielectric constant and loss tangent are found to be high for PSG as compare to PSS. ► The energy band gap is found to be higher for the sample prepared by sol-gel method. ► Photocatalytic activity is found, better for the sample prepared by sol-gel method.