Photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B by anchored TiO2 nanowires.

ABSTRACT

Rutile TiO2 nanowires anchored on silica were fabricated by annealing TiO2 nanoparticles dispersed on silicon or quartz substrate by means of a polystyrene nanosphere monolayer template at 1000 degrees C for 1 h without any catalyst. The diameter and length of the nanowires were 30-80 nm and 1-3 microm, respectively. The growth direction of the nanowires is [112]. The photocatalytic activities of TiO2 nanoparticles and anchored nanowires were evaluated. TiO2 nanowires had higher photocatalytic activity for rhodamine B than TiO2 nanoparticles.