Photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) in aqueous solution using TiO _2 nanoparticles prepared with various alcohols as solvent

摘要

TiO _2 nanoparticles were prepared with various linear alkyl chains of alcohols under a sol-gel process. The structure characterization and the photocatalytic reduction of hexavalent chromium of the TiO _2 nanoparticles were investigated. The phase transformation temperature, crystal aggregation and surface area of prepared TiO _2 samples were found to be strongly influenced by alcohol used. The phase transformation from anatase to rutile was retarded and the surface area was reduced for TiO _2 prepared with alcohols of longer alkyl chain. TiO _2 nanoparticles prepared with methanol or ethanol exhibited higher photocatalytic reduction activity of hexavalent chromium possibly due to greater and more positively charged surface area.