10.6084/m9.figshare.7461488.v1
Luca Rimoldi
Luca
Rimoldi
Daniela Meroni
Daniela
Meroni
Eleonora Pargoletti
Eleonora
Pargoletti
Iolanda Biraghi
Iolanda
Biraghi
Giuseppe Cappelletti
Giuseppe
Cappelletti
Silvia Ardizzone
Silvia
Ardizzone
Experimental data and data analysis from Role of the growth step on the structural, optical and surface features of TiO<sub>2</sub>/SnO<sub>2</sub> composites
The Royal Society
2018
titanium dioxide
tin oxide
TiO2/SnO2 composite
hydrothermal treatment
calcination
2018-12-13 13:13:47
Journal contribution
https://rs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Experimental_data_and_data_analysis_from_Role_of_the_growth_step_on_the_structural_optical_and_surface_features_of_TiO_sub_2_sub_SnO_sub_2_sub_composites/7461488
TiO<sub>2</sub>/SnO<sub>2</sub> composites have attracted considerable attention for their application in photocatalysis, fuel cells and sensors. Structural, morphological, optical and surface features play a pivotal role in photoelectrochemical applications and are critically related to the synthetic route. Most of the reported synthetic procedures require high temperature treatments in order to tailor the sample crystallinity, usually at the expense of surface hydroxylation and morphology. In this work, we investigate the role of a treatment in an autoclave at a low temperature (100°C) on the sample properties and photocatalytic performance. With respect to samples calcined at 400°C, the milder crystallization treatment promotes anatase phase, mesoporosity and water chemi/physisorption, while reducing the incorporation of heteroatoms within the TiO<sub>2</sub> lattice. The role of Sn content was also investigated, showing a marked influence, especially on the structural properties. Notably, at a high content, Sn favours the formation of rutile TiO<sub>2</sub> at very low reaction temperatures (100°C), thanks to the structural compatibility with cassiterite SnO<sub>2</sub>. Selected samples were tested towards the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline in water under UV light. Overall, the low temperature treatment enables to tune the TiO<sub>2</sub> phase composition while maintaining its surface hydrophilicity and gives rise to well dispersed SnO<sub>2</sub> at the TiO<sub>2</sub> surface.