Title: Synthesis of vanadium oxide/titanium dioxide nanocomposites via sonochemical and hydrothermal process and their utilisation for energy storage application

Authors: C. Kahattha; W. Techitdheera; N. Vittayakorn; W. Pecharapa

Addresses: College of Nanotechnology, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Chalongkrung Rd., Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand; ThEP Center, CHE, 328 Siayuthtaya Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand ' Faculty of Science, School of Applied Physics, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand ' College of Nanotechnology, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Chalongkrung Rd., Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand; Advanced Materials Science Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand ' College of Nanotechnology, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Chalongkrung Rd., Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand; ThEP Center, CHE, 328 Siayuthtaya Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Abstract: This work focuses on the synthesis of V₂O₅/TiO₂nanocomposites by sonochemical and hydrothermal process. First, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanopowders were synthesised by sonochemical process using titanium isopropoxide as a titanium source. Meanwhile, hydrothermal process was employed to modify the structure of commercial V₂O₅ powder to be nanorod-like structure V₂O₅ to increase its specific surface area. Structural and morphological properties of the composites were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The XRD results indicate that the crystallisation of the composite corresponds to anatase and orthorhombic structures of TiO₂ and V₂O₅, respectively. The significant variation of charge storage properties of the composites under ultraviolet irradiation was obtained by varying V₂O₅ content in the composite. Results suggest that V₂O₅ loaded into the nanocomposite plays a key role as a storage material of photoelectrons generated by TiO₂ illuminated by ultraviolet irradiation.

Keywords: TiO2; V2O5; vanadium oxide; titanium dioxide; nanocomposites; sonochemical process; hydrothermal process; energy storage; nanoelectronics; nanotechnology; nanopowders; photoelectrons.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2014.059834

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2014 Vol.11 No.1/2/3/4, pp.333 - 344

Published online: 15 Nov 2014 *

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