Ionic Liquid-Aided Synthesis of Anatase TiO2 Nanoparticles: Photocatalytic Water Splitting and Electrochemical Applications

Abstract

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles play a crucial role in the production of hydrogen gas evolution. Among the four polymorphic phases of TiO2 (anatase, rutile, brookite, and TiO2 (B)), the anatase phase shows good photo activity in catalytic applications. We prepared a single anatasephase of TiO2 nanoparticles usinga facile one-step ionothermal method with the existence of 1-(3,6-dioxa heptane) 3-methyl imidazolium methane sulfonate IL[DOMIMS]. The ionic liquid-based substitution reaction mechanism was utilized for the ionothermal synthesis of TiO2. The anatase phase structure and nanoparticle-like morphology of synthesized TiO2 nanomaterial were confirmed by XRD analysis and TEM studies. The vibrational frequency of the Ti–O–Ti bond at 544 cm−1 was measured usingthe FTIR spectrum, and the UV absorbance of the sample was studied usingthe UV/visible spectra. The prepared TiO2 nanoparticles showed the best results of H2 generation via awater-splitting reaction, liberating 2084 μmol·g−1·h−1 of H2 gas. TiO2 nanoparticles act as a good material for electrochemical applications such as supercapacitors and sensing of dopamine, as well as a better photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue.