Phase transformation and nanograting structure on TiO2 rutile single crystal induced by infrared femtosecond laser

In this paper, TitaiJum dioxide （TiO2） rutile single crystal was irradiated by infrared femtosecond laser pulses with repetition rate of 250 kHz. For a P-polarized femtosecond laser, the periodic nanograting structure on the ablation crater surface was formed . The periodicity is much less than the laser wavelength. The direction of nanograting alignment depends on the polarization laser beam. Micro-Raman spectra show that the intensity of Eg Raman vibrating mode of rutile phase increases and that of Alg Raman vibrating mode decreases apparently within the ablation crater. With the increase of irradiation time and laser average power, the Raman vibrating modes of anatase phase emerged. Rutile phase of TiO2 single crystal is partly transformed into anatase phase.

Synthesis and characterisation of potassium polytitanate for photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet

Potassium titanate nanostructures were synthesised by hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 （P25） in KOH and H2O2. As-produced powders were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption methods. Longitudinally-oriented-wire-like structures with a length up to several micrometres and diameters ranging from 10 to 30 nm were obtained. Larger size fibrous nanowires resulting from the hydrotherrnal treatment showed high affinity in adsorbing crystal violet （CV）, which was mainly due to their high surface area. The photocatalytic bleaching of CV solution revealed that the wires are photoactive under ultraviolet light irradiation. Macroporous nanowires are considered as effective adsorbents of CV, capable of photocatalvtic degradation, and they can be easily separated from the solution by settling.