Title: Hydrothermal synthesis of mixed phase blue titanium dioxide from oxalate stabilised sols

Authors: C. McNicoll; F. Abu Bakar; V. Golovko; T. Kemmitt

Addresses: Advanced Materials, Callaghan Innovation, 69 Gracefield road, P.O. Box 31310, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand ' Advanced Materials, Callaghan Innovation, 69 Gracefield road, P.O. Box 31310, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand ' Advanced Materials, Callaghan Innovation, 69 Gracefield road, P.O. Box 31310, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand ' Advanced Materials, Callaghan Innovation, 69 Gracefield road, P.O. Box 31310, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand

Abstract: Blue coloured titanium dioxide nanoparticles were synthesised by the hydrothermal treatment of oxalic acid stabilised titania sols in the presence of NH₄F as a modifying agent. The NH₄F concentration determined the phase of titania produced and influenced the shape of the rutile crystallites produced. The blue colour originated from the F-stabilised Ti³⁺ centres formed under the reaction conditions. Organic residues in the sol decomposed to generate a hydrogen-rich atmosphere. Photocatalytic activity studies revealed the rutile phase titania produced was extremely active for a given surface area when compared to P-25.

Keywords: titanium dioxide; blue TiO2 nanoparticles; self-doped; Ti3+; NH4F; ammonium fluoride; photocatalysis; hydrothermal synthesis; oxalate stabilised sols; nanotechnology; titania sols; rutile crystallites.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2017.082476

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2017 Vol.14 No.1/2/3/4/5/6, pp.265 - 275

Published online: 24 Feb 2017 *

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