Morphology Dependence of Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Nanostructure Prepared through Microwave Hydrothermal Process

Five different morphologies selectively synthesized through a microwave hydrothermal route in order to determine the dependence of degradation efficiency on TiO2 morphologies. These five morphologies include nanosphere, nanotube, hollow sphere, nanorod and granule-like particle. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Brunauer-Emment-Teller methods were used to characterize the morphologies, crystalline structures, and specific surface area of these nanostructured TiO2. Oxidants were used as sacrificial electron acceptor to accelerate the degradation. The degradation mechanism of oxalic acid on the surface of TiO2 influenced by oxidants was discussed.