Low-frequency ultrasound induces oxygen vacancies formation and visible light absorption in TiO2 P-25 nanoparticles.

Low-frequency ultrasound (LFUS) irradiation induces morphological, optical and surface changes in the commercial nano-TiO(2)-based photocatalyst, Evonik-Degussa P-25. Low-temperature electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements performed on this material provided the first experimental evidence for the formation of oxygen vacancies (V(o)), which were also found responsible for the visible-light absorption. The V(o) surface defects might result from high-speed inter-particle collisions and shock waves generated by LFUS sonication impacting the TiO(2) particles. This is in contrast to a number of well-established technologies, where the formation of oxygen vacancies on the TiO(2) surface often requires harsh technological conditions and complicated procedures, such as annealing at high temperatures, radio-frequency-induced plasma or ion sputtering. Thus, this study reports for the first time the preparation of visible-light responsive TiO(2)-based photocatalysts by using a simple LFUS-based approach to induce oxygen vacancies at the nano-TiO(2) surface. These findings might open new avenues for synthesis of novel nano-TiO(2)-based photocatalysts capable of destroying water or airborne pollutants and microorganisms under visible light illumination.

Direct modification with tungstophosphoric acid of mesoporous titania synthesized by urea-templated sol-gel reactions.

A series of mesoporous titania materials modified with tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) were successfully synthesized by using urea as low-cost template via sol-gel reactions, followed by removing the urea by extraction with water. They were characterized by FT-IR, 31P MAS-NMR, XRD, DTA-TGA, DRS, TEM and BET. The samples presented mesopores with a diameter higher than 3.0 nm. The S(BET) of the solids decreases with the increase of the TPA content and with the increase of the calcination temperature. According to FT-IR and 31P MAS-NMR studies the main species present in the samples is [PW12O40]3- anions, which was partially transformed into [P2W21O71]6- and [PW11O39]7- anion during the synthesis and drying step. The XRD patterns of the modified samples only exhibited the characteristic peaks of anatase phase. The presence of TPA retarded the crystallization of the anatase phase and its transformation into rutile phase. The point of zero charge decreased in parallel with the increment of tungstophosphoric acid in the samples and with the increase of the calcination temperature. The band gap energy decreased as a result of the introduction of TPA into the TiO2 matrix, but remained practically constant with the increase of the calcination temperature.