TiO_2 nanoparticles prepared by hydrochloric acid leaching of mechanically activated and carbothermic reduced ilmenite

A new combination method consisting of ball milling, carbothermic reduction and hydrochloric acid leaching was proposed for the preparation of nanosized synthetic rutile from natural ilmenite. The ball milling was employed to grind ilmenite into small particles. The carbothermic reduction was carried out to yield a high titanium slag, which would be easily purified by subsequent leaching procedure. Factors affecting the hydrochloric acid process, namely the leaching time, temperature, and acid concentration, were studied. After leaching and calcining the milled and annealed mixture of FeTiO3/C under the optimal conditions, the TiO2 nanoparticles with size of 10-200 nm and purity〉98.0% were obtained.

Preparation and photocatalytic performance of Cu-doped TiO_2 nanoparticles

Cu-doped TiO2 nanoparticles with different doping contents from 0 to 2.0% （mole fraction） were synthesized through sol-gel method. X-ray diffraction （XRD）, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS） and field emission scanning electron microscope （FE-SEM） were used to characterize the crystalline structure, chemical valence states and morphology of TiO2 nanoparticles. UV-Vis absorption spectrum was used to measure the optical absorption property of the samples. The photocatalytic performance of the samples was characterized by degrading 20 mg/L methyl orange under UV-Vis irradiation. The results show that the Cu-doped TiO2 nanoparticles exhibit a significant increase in photocatalytic performance over the pure TiO2 nanoparticles, and the TiO2 nanoparticles doped with 1.0% Cu show the best photocatalytic performance. The improvement in photocatalytic performance is attributed to the enhanced light adsorption in UV-Vis range and the decrease of the recombination rate of photoinduced electron-hole oair of the Cu-doped TiO2 nanoparticles.

基于PbS QDs/TiO2 NPs构建新型谷胱甘肽光电化学传感器

通过高温煅烧将二氧化钛纳米颗粒(TiO2 NPs)修饰到ITO电极表面制成TiO2 NPs/ITO电极,再采用连续离子层吸附反应(SILAR)循环将硫化铅量子点(PbS QDs)修饰到TiO2/ITO电极表面制得PbS QDs/TiO2 NPs/ITO电极,并将该电极应用于检测谷胱甘肽(GSH)的光电化学传感器.在该传感器中,当PbS QDs受470 nm可见光的激发时将产生电子(e)和光生空穴(h+),光生空穴可被溶液中的GSH捕获,并将GSH氧化成GSSH,有效避免电子和空穴的复合,显著提高了光电效率.该传感器对GSH的检测具有较高的灵敏度和选择性,线性检测范围为0.06~1 mmol/L,检出限(LOD)为4.6×10^-3 mmol/L(S/N=3).

Effect of sub-acute exposure to TiO_2 nanoparticles on oxidative stress and histopathological changes in Juvenile Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Increasing application of nanotechnology highlights the need to clarify and understand nanotoxicity. Mammalian and in vitro studies have raised concerns about the toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles （TiO2-NPs）, but there are limited data on ecotoxicity to aquatic organisms. In this work, the sub-acute toxicity of TiO2-NPs to carp （Cyprinus carpio） was assessed. Superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase （CAT） and peroxidase （POD） activities and lipid peroxidation （LPO） levels in liver, gill and brain tissues of carps varied with concentration of TiO2-NPs suspensions and exposure time （up to 8 d）. As a result, 100 and 200 mg/L TiO2-NPs caused statistically significant decrease in SOD, CAT and POD activities and significant increase in LPO levels in tissues （P 〈 0.05）, suggesting that the fish exposed to these two concentrations of TiO2-NPs suffered from the oxidative stress. The extent of depletion of antioxidant enzymes activities and the elevation of LPO in the liver was the greatest, indicating that the liver might be the most susceptible organ to TiO2-NPs exposure. In addition, carps had gill pathologies including edema and thickening of gill lamellae as well as gill filaments, and liver pathologies including necrotic and apoptosis hepatocytes after exposed to 100 and 200 mg/L TiO2-NPs for 20 d. These results indicated a potential risk from TiO2-NPs released into the aqueous environment.

Effects of TiO2 nanoparticles on thermal conductivity of heat transfer oil

There is a lack of thermophysical data of heat transfer oil and nano-oil in the high temperature range of 50-300 ℃ for designing and developing heat transfer oil furnace and its heating systems. In the present study, the thermal conductivity values of heat transfer oil and TiO2 nano-oil in the above high temperature range were measured by a newly developed high-temperature thermal conductivity meter. Based on the principle of least square method, the thermal conductivity values obtained from experiments were fitted separately, and the correlation between thermal conductivity and temperature of heat transfer oil and TiO2 nano-oil was obtained. The results show that the thermal conductivity and the increased percentage of thermal conductivity of TiO2 nano-oil are proportional to the increase of particle size and mass fraction of nanoparticles, but thermal conductivity is in reverse proportion to the increase of temperature and the increased percentage of thermal conductivity is less affected by temperature.

STM and STS investigations of Ce-doped TiO_2 nanoparticles

Ce-doped titanium oxide nanoparticles were investigated in the paper. The surface structures of undoped and Ce-doped TiO2 nanoparticles were observed by scanning tunneling microscopy （STM）. The experimental results of scanning tunneling spectroscopy （STS） show that the surface electronic structures of TiO2 nanoparticles are modified by introducing new electronic states in the surface band gap through cerium ion doping. The results are discussed in terms of the influence of doping concentration on the surface band gap of TiO2.

Fabrication of ultrafine Pd nanoparticles on 3D ordered macroporous TiO_2 for enhanced catalytic activity during diesel soot combustion

Nanocatalysts consisting of three‐dimensionally ordered macroporous(3DOM)TiO2‐supported ultrafine Pd nanoparticles(Pd/3DOM‐TiO2‐GBMR)were readily fabricated by gas bubbling‐assisted membrane reduction(GBMR)method.These catalysts had a well‐defined and highly ordered macroporous nanostructure with an average pore size of 280 nm.In addition,ultrafine hemispherical Pd nanoparticles(NPs)with a mean particle size of 1.1 nm were found to be well dispersed over the surface of the 3DOM‐TiO2 support and deposited on the inner walls of the material.The nanostructure of the 3DOM‐TiO2 support ensured efficient contact between soot particles and the catalyst.The large interface area between the ultrafine Pd NPs and the TiO2 also increased the density of sites for O2 activation as a result of the strong metal(Pd)‐support(TiO2)interaction(SMSI).A Pd/3DOM‐TiO2‐GBMR catalyst with ultrafine Pd NPs(1.1 nm)exhibited higher catalytic activity during diesel soot combustion compared with that obtained from a specimen having relatively large Pd NPs(5.0 nm).The T10,T50 and T90 values obtained from the former were 295,370 and 415°C.Both the activity and nanostructure of the Pd/3DOM‐TiO2‐GBMR catalyst were stable over five replicate soot oxidation trials.These results suggest that nanocatalysts having a 3DOM structure together with ultrafine Pd NPs can decrease the amount of Pd required,and that this approach has potential practical applications in the catalytic combustion of diesel soot particles.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Efficiency of TiO2 by Combining the Modification of Ag Nanoparticles with the Application of Anodic Bias

Ag-TiO2/ITO film electrode was used as photoanode to investigate the feasibility of a hybrid technology of Ag nanoparticles combined with the application of anodic bias. The results showed that the deposited Ag and applied anodic bias have an apparent additive effect.

TiO_2 composite nanotubes embedded with CdS and upconversion nanoparticles for near infrared light driven photocatalysis

We report a colloidal process to coat a layer of TiO2onto SiO2composite nanofibers containing embedded CdS and upconversion nanoparticles(UCNPs).The SiO2composite nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning.To improve the energy transfer efficiency,UCNPs and CdS nanoparticles were bound in close proximity to each other within the SiO2matrix.β‐NaYF4:Yb(30%),Tm(0.5%)@NaYF4:Yb(20%),Er(2%)core–shell nanoparticles were used as nanotransducers for near infrared light.These nanoparticles exhibited enhanced upconversion fluorescence compared withβ‐NaYF4:Yb(30%),Tm(0.5%)orβ–NaYF4:Yb(30%),Tm(0.5%)@NaYF4nanoparticles.The morphologies,size and chemical compositions have been extensively investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),X‐ray diffraction(XRD)and X‐ray photoelectron spectra(XPS),respectively.The TEM images showed that the TiO2composite nanotubes were embedded with a large amount of UCNPs and CdS nanoparticles.The composite TiO2nanotubes degraded more than90%of rhodamine B(RhB)dye during20min of irradiation by simulated solar light.In particular,more than50%of RhB was decomposed in70min,under irradiation of near infrared light(NIR).This high degradation was attributed to the full spectrum absorption of solar light,and the enhanced transfer efficiency for near infrared light.The as‐prepared nanostructures can harness solar energy,and provide an alternative to overcome energy shortages and environmental protection.

Electrochemical determination of vitamin C in the presence of uric acid by a novel TiO_2 nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode

The electrochemical behavior of vitamin C（ascorbic acid or AA） is investigated on the surface of a carbon-paste electrode modified with TiO2 nanoparticles and 2,2＇-（1,2 butanediylbis（nitriloethylidyne））-bis-hydroquinone（BBNBH）.The prepared modified electrode showed an efficient catalytic role in the electrochemical oxidation of AA,leading to remarkable decrease in oxidation overpotential and enhancement of the kinetics of the electrode reaction.This modified electrode exhibits well-separated oxidation peaks for AA and uric acid（UA）.The modified electrode is successfully applied for the accurate determination of AA in pharmaceutical preparations.

Fabrication, annealing, and electrocatalytic properties of platinum nanoparticles supported on self-organized TiO_2 nanotubes

The platinum nanoparticles supported on self-organized TiO2 nanotubes （Pt-TiO2/Ti） were prepared using electrochemical anodic oxidation followed by cathodic reduction. The structure and chemical nature of the Pt-TiO2/Ti electrocatalyst were investigated by X-ray diffraction （XRD） and scanning electron microscopy （SEM）. Both XRD and SEM results indicate the presence of platinum on nanotubular TiO2. The stability of the Pt deposits was also investigated in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 solution by cyclic voltammetry. The electrocatalytic activity of the Pt-TiO2/Ti catalyst exhibits enhancement effect during electro-oxidation of methanol when annealed to anatase. Successive cyclic voltam- mograms of methanol oxidation on the Pt-TiO2/Ti electrocatalyst shows unique electrocatalytic characteristics when compared to methanol oxidation on the bulk Pt catalyst. This is because of further quick oxidation of adsorbed CO by Pt （111） facets of Pt particles on self-organized TiO2 nanotubes when the formation of an electroactive film onto the working catalyst surface occurs.

Effect of TiO_2 Nanoparticles on Photochromism of WO_3 Colloids

WO2 and TiO2 colMds were synthesized by the hydrolysis technique and part of the TiO2 colloid was treated by means of the hydrothermal method. The photochromic performances of the resulting materials obtained via combining the WO3 colloid with the treated TiO2 colloid and the non-treated TiO2 colloid, respectively, are very different. The TiO2 colloid without hydrothermal treatment can effectively improve the photochromic performance of the WO3colloid. The TiO2 nanoparticles were investigated in detail by XRD, TEM, surface photovohage spectra（SPS） and field-induced surface photovoltage spectrometry（FISPS）. The photochromism mechanism of WO3 colloid is discussed.

Surface Texturing of TiO_2 Film by Mist Deposition of TiO_2 Nanoparticles

Unique and various microstructures of titanium oxide(TiO_2 ) film including macroporous structure, chromatic veins and rings, have been easily fabricated by mist deposition method on silicon substrate with mild preparation conditions. Rutile phase TiO_2 nanoparticles were directly used as starting material to prepare film and led to a simple preparation process. It was found that several different microstructures existed in the sample and changed with the varied positions from the center to the edge of the film when the concentration of the TiO_2 suspension is 0.06 mol/l, the deposition time is 30 min, the flow rate is 1 l/min and the temperature is150. The surface texturing shows apparent distinction as the concentration of the TiO_2 suspension decreased to 0.03 mol/l and 0.01 mol/l.

Functionalization of Nylon Fabrics with Dopamine Deposition and TiO2 Nanoparticles Immobilization

Ultraviolet(UV)radiation can cause degradation or aging of many polymers and shorten the working-life of their products.Thus,UV protective covers are required in various occasions.Textiles with the UV-shielding function possess unique properties compared with those covers in board or film shapes.TiO_2 nanoparticles(NPs),which were reported to have superior UV blocking function,can be used to produce UV protective covers in combination with fabric.However,efficient and environmentally friendly immobilization of TiO_2 Nps onto the fabrics is challenging.Polydopamine(PDA),a biomimetic synthetic polymer,has attracted great attentions recently due to its superior affinity to various materials and facile application procedure.Hence,in this research,the surface of nylon fabrics was modified by PDA to immobilizeTiO_2 NPs.Themodificationconditionswere systematically optimized.The immobilization of the NPs was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FTIR)and scanning electron microscope(SEM).The functionalized nylon fabrics were proved to exhibit improved UV protection properties even after washing.This work provides a new and versatile surface modification technique for textiles.

Surface Modified TiO2 Nanoparticles-an Effective Anti-wear and Anti-friction Additive for Lubricating Grease

The surface modified TiO_2 nanoparticles were prepared by using 12-hydroxystearic acid chemically modified on the TiO_2 surface. The average size of the TiO_2 particles is about 30 nm. The optimum ratio of tetrabutyl titanate to 12-hydroxystearic acid was 1/0.5. The bonding form between 12-hydroxystearic acid and TiO_2 nucleus was investigated by FTIR, DSC, TGA and XRD techniques. The lubricating grease containing the surface modified TiO_2 nanoparticles possesses excellent anti-wear and anti-friction properties. Compared with the grease without TiO_2, the PB value can be increased by 52% as the best performance of the grease containing surface modified TiO_2 nanoparticles, while the friction coefficient can be reduced by 33% with the addition of a small amount of TiO_2 nanoparticles, and meanwhile the wear scar diameter decreases by 25%.

Transient competition between photocatalysis and carrier recombination in TiO_2 nanotube film loaded with Au nanoparticles

Highly ordered TiO2 nanotube array （TNA） films are fabricated by using an anodic oxidation method. Au nanoparticles （NPs） films are decorated onto the top of TNA films with the aid of ion-sputtering and thermal annealing. An enhanced photocatalytic activity under ultraviolet C （UVC, 266 nm） light irradiation is obtained compared with that of the pristine TNA, which is shown by the steady-state photoluminescence （PL） spectra. Furthermore, a distinct blue shift in the nanosecond time-resolved transient photoluminescence （NTRT-PL） spectra is observed. Such a phenomenon could be well explained by considering the competition between the surface photocatalytic process and the recombination of the photo-generated carriers. The enhanced UV photocatalytic activities of the Au-TNA composite are evaluated through photo-degradation of methyl orange （MO） in an aqueous solution with ultraviolet-visible absorption spectrometry. Our current work may provide a simple strategy to synthesize defect-related composite photocatalytic devices.

Ag-Cu Nanoparticles Supported on N-Doped TiO2 Nanowire Arrays for Efficient Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into various types of fuels has attracted great interest,and serves as a potential solution to addressing current global warming and energy challenges.In this work,Ag-Cu nanoparticles are densely supported on N-doped TiO2 nanowire through a straightforward nanofabrication approach.The range of light absorption by N-doped TiO2 can be tuned to match the plasmonic band of Ag nanoparticles,which allows synergizing a resonant energy transfer process with the Schottky junction.Meanwhile,Cu nanoparticles can provide active sites for the reduction of CO2 molecules.Remarkably,the performance of photocatalytic CO2 reduction is improved to produce CH4 at a rate of 720μmol·g-1·h-1 under full-spectrum irradiation.

Au NPs修饰TiO2纳米片阵列的制备及光电化学性能研究

TiO2吸光性能差和光电转化效率低,通过Au NPs修饰TiO2纳米片来提高其吸光性能以及光电转化效率。修饰后的纳米复合物(Au-TiO2-Ti)在可见光范围内的光吸收和光电流密度都明显增加,在200 mW/cm^2,0.5 V vs.Ag/AgCl的条件下,光电流密度可达到0.38 mA/cm^2,经过8 h光照后光电流保持稳定,表明材料具有优异的稳定性。因此,合成的Au-TiO2-Ti电极在光电化学转化中有良好的应用前景。

Thermal and Structural Analyses of PMMA/TiO₂Nanoparticles Composites

In the present work, composites of poly (methyl methacrylate)/titanium oxide nanoparticles (100/0, 97.5/2.5, 95/5, 92.5/7.5, 90/10 and 0/100 wt/wt%)were prepared to be used as bioequivalent materials according to their importance broad practical and medical applications. Thermal properties as well as X-ray diffraction analyses were employed to characterize the structure properties of such composite. The obtained results showed variations in the glass transition temperature (Tg), the melting temperature (Tm), shape and area of thermal peaks which were attributed to the different degrees of crystallinity and the existence of interactions between PMMA and TiO2 nanoparticle molecules. The XRD patterns showed sharpening of peaks at different concentrations of nano-TiO2 powder with PMMA. This indicated changes in the crystallinity/amorphosity ratio, and also suggested that the miscibility between the amorphous components of homo- polymers PMMA and nano-TiO2 powder is possible.The results showed that nano-TiO2 powder mix with PMMA can improve the thermal stability of the homo-polymer under investigation, lead- ing to interesting technological applications.

Apparent 1^st order rate constant of photodegradation of formaldehyde by carbon containing TiO2 nanoparticles

The apparent 1^st order rate constant of photodegradation of formaldehyde by carbon containing TiO2 nanoparticles has been investigated by numerical integration of mass transfer equation with measured degradation degree using a tubular photoreactor. The carbon containing TiO2 nanoparticles are synthesized by the oxidation of TiCl4 in propane/air flame CVD process with futile fraction up to 0.3 and carbon mass fractions up to 0.22, respectively. Thin TiO2 film is coated on the wall of the tubular reactor by sedimentation method. Effects of rutile mass fraction and carbon content have been examined on the apparent 1 ^st order rate constant and results show that, at 570ppm of formaldehyde loaded air stream, 80% relative humidity and about 100nm thin TiOa film, the 1^st order rate constant increases with increasing rutile mass fraction up to 0.3, occurs a maximum at the carbon content of about 5% by weight and is about 2.5 times of that at carbon content about zero or above 10%.