Rice grain-shaped TiO2 mesostructures—synthesis, characterization and applications in dye-sensitized solar cells and photocatalysis

摘要: We report the synthesis, characterization and applications in dye-sensitized solar cells photocatalysis of novel “rice grain-shaped” TiO2 mesostructures by electrospinning, which is a well-established cost-effective technique for large-scale production 1-D nanostructures. The porous crystalline rice grain-like structures produced at 500 °C are uniformly distributed with high surface area ∼60 m2 g−1 mixed crystal structure. origin unique morphology traced to microscale phase separation between polymer during solvent evaporation owing solubility difference two. excellently reproducible over wide range concentrations precursors spinning conditions. Evolution from fiber probed scanning electron microscopy analyses systematically heated electrospun fibers. grain stable up 600 further increase temperature, shape distorts accompanying changes anatase–rutile proportion complete dominance rutile 1000 °C. A comparison photovoltaic photocatalytic performance material P-25 showed that grain-shaped superior commercially available P-25. anticipate would have other areas too such as photonic crystals, chemical sensors, self-cleaning materials, UV-blockers, etc.