Fabrication and Photocatalysis of TiO2 Flower-like Nanostructures

TiO2 nanostructures were fabricated by a reaction of Ti foils in H2O2 solution at mild temperature. Porous TiO2 nanostructures, well-adhered to Ti foil surfaces, were formed at 80 ±C in 10 min, and then flower- like and rod nanostructures formed in succession after a longer reaction time. Samples prepared at 80 ±C for 4 h are amorphous, and anatase-dominated crystal phase emerged in the sample prepared for as long as 10 h. Almost pure anatase phase were obtained in TiO2 nanostructures by annealing the samples at a temperature of 300 ±C. Photocatalysis of the TiO2 nanostructures was characterized by the degradation of RhB dye molecules in an aqueous solution exposed to ultraviolet light. Results show a 7 cm2 annealed TiO2 flower-like nanostructure having the degradation rate of RhB as fast as 29.8 times that of the dye solution exposed to ultraviolet light alone.