Study On Photocatalytic Properties Of Titanium Dioxide Nanotubes Made By Microwave Method

Nano-materials developed in the mid 80s is a new structure material in the 20th century, because of its unique structural characteristics,So that it has broad application in the optical, electrical, magnetic, catalytic, and sensors. Therefore, That the study of new properties of nano-materials, exploitation of new nano-materials and new methods of synthesis of nano-materials will become a popular area in 21st century.Titanium dioxide is a new semiconductor material, with stable chemical nature, low cost and be non-toxic characters, it is the most potential applications as a photocatalyst. Titania nanotube is a new form of nanometer titanium dioxide, compared with other forms of nano titanium dioxide materials, compared with other forms of nano titanium dioxide materials,it has the greater surface area and greater ability of adsorption. It is expected to improve the titanium dioxide conversion efficiency and photocatalytic properties further more, especially dope the inorganic, organic, metallic or magnetic materials into titanium dioxide nanotube partly to prepare a composite material, then the optical properties and catalytic activity of titanium dioxide nanotube will be greatly improved.In this article, titania nano-powders were synthesized by using Sol-Gel method, to discuss the process of preparation of nanotube by Microwave method on this basis. To measure morphology and structure of nanotubes and nano titanium dioxide powder by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and BET instrument; compared with photocatalytic degradation experiment of the titanium dioxide nanotubes and nano-powders using methyl orange degradation, to study its photocatalytic activity, and analyze the degradation mechanism. The results show that: titania nanoparticles obtained a diameter of about 40~60nm by Sol-Gel method; washed titania nanotube get the external diameter of 8~15nm, inner diameter 5~10nm, length 50~100nm by Microwave synthesis, but titanium dioxide nanotube are agglomerated after pickling, tube has been less obvious; prepared titania nanotube and nanoparticles are anatase phase in this study; specific surface area of nanotube has increased more than nanoparticles. In the 15W UV irradiation, after 150min photocatalytic degradation test showed that: titanium dioxide nanotube has higher photocatalytic properties than nano-powder.