Preparation of anatase hollow TiO2 spheres and their photocatalytic activity in the photodegradation of chlorpyrifos

Abstract

Hollow anatase titania (TiO2) spheres were synthesized using fructose and tetrabutyl titanate (Ti(OC4H9)4, TBT) as the precursors via the conventional hard template method. The morphological, structural and thermal properties of the products were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), Brunauer Teller (BET) surface area analysis and diffuse reflectance ultraviolet visible (DR UVVis) spectroscopy. XRD revealed that the hollow TiO2 prepared was in the anatase phase and the BET surface area measured was about 22 m2 g-1. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized hollow anatase TiO2 in the photodecomposition of chlorpyrifos was 18.67 % higher than that obtained using commercial TiO2. Hollow TiO2 spheres were synthesized via a simple template-assisted method at room temperature using fructose and tetrabutyl titanate as the precursors. The obtained hollow TiO2 was proven to be efficient as a photocatalyst in the decomposition of chlorpyrifos. Hollow TiO2 showed better photocatalytic activity than commercial TiO2.