Photocatalytic activity of the calcined H-titanate nanowires for photocatalytic oxidation of acetone in air

Hydrogen titanate (H-titanate) nanowires were prepared via a hydrothermal reaction of TiO₂ powders (P25) in KOH solutions and then calcined at various temperatures. The phase structure, crystallite size, morphology, specific surface area, and pore structures of the calcined H-titanate nanowires at various temperatures were characterized with field emission scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, and their photocatalytic activities were evaluated by photocatalytic oxidation of acetone in air. With increasing calcination temperature, the specific surface area and porosity of the calcined samples steadily decreased. At a calcination temperature range of 400–600 °C, the calcined H-titanate nanowires showed higher photocatalytic activity than P25 powders for photocatalytic oxidation of acetone. Especially, at 500 °C, the calcined H-titanate nanowires showed the highest photocatalytic activity, which exceeded that of P25 by a factor of about 1.8 times. This can be attributed to the synergetic effect of larger specific surface area, higher pore volume and the presence of brookite TiO₂. With further increase in the calcination temperature (700–900 °C), the photocatalytic activity of the samples decreased obviously owing to the growth of TiO₂ crystallites.