The Structural Change of TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃Using P123 Template: Review

Abstract

Pluronic P123 has become a potential agent for solubilizing various metal oxide precursor molecules. However, how these solubilizates affect the morphology of material remains poorly understood. In this review, the morphological transition of TiO2 and Fe2O3 induced by Pluronic P123 micelles has been comprehensively investigated. The change of TiO2 and Fe2O3 structure by P123 micelles forms micellar clusters governed by the balance of hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding, which consequently leads to various micellar morphologies. The review results further show that the intensity of P123-TiO2 and and P123-Fe2O3 interaction increases with the hydrophobicity of the P123, indicating that hydrophobic interaction is more important in the TiO2 and Fe2O3 morphological transition. The transformation of the disordered morphology is more effective in the acidic pH scale range than the basic and neutral ones. Not only pH, but also seen when the reaction time not more than 4 hours with moderate temperature ranging from 300-500 °C and the ratio of P123 to Ti and Fe precursors of 1-5% (%w/w) is the optimum condition which changes the disordered morphology to a more regular one. The acidity, time reaction and temperature as the main parameter influencing the enhancement of the physical properties and morphology for the considered reaction.