Photocatalytic properties of titania powders prepared by hydrothermal method

Abstract Nanocrystalline titania with particle size ∼20–50 nm and specific surface area ∼20–80 m 2  g −1 is prepared by hydrothermal treatment of aqueous TiOSO 4 , H 2 TiO(C 2 O 4 ) 2 , and TiO(NO 3 ) 2 solutions. The photocatalytic behavior of synthesized TiO 2 powders is studied in the reaction of phenol photodegradation in water and optimal characteristics of these materials are explored. The best photocatalytic activity was observed for a mixture of rutile (15%) and anatase (85%) prepared by high-temperature hydrolysis of aqueous TiOSO 4 solution.