Issue 29, 2013
From the journal:

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

Long-range and short-range structures of cube-like shape SrTiO3 powders: microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and photocatalytic activity†

Luís F. da Silva,*a   Waldir Avansi, Jr.,b   Juan Andrés,c   Caue Ribeiro,d   Mário L. Moreira,e   Elson Longob  and  Valmor R. Mastelaroa  

* Corresponding authors

a Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São-carlense, 400, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
E-mail: lfsilva@ursa.ifsc.usp.br, lfsilva83@gmail.com
Tel: +55 16 3373 9828

b Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luiz, km 235, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

c Departamento Química-Física y Analítica, Universitat Jaume I, Campus de Riu Sec, Castelló E-12080, Spain

d EMBRAPA Instrumentação, Rua XV de novembro, 1452, São Carlos, SP, Brazil

e INCTMN, Physical and Mathematics Institute (IFM), Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário Capão do Leão, P.O. Box 354, Pelotas, RS, Brazil

Abstract

We report herein a detailed study on the influence of microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MAH) treatment time on both long and short range structures around Ti atoms of SrTiO3 powders. Few studies have been carried out on short-order structural properties as well as the relationship between the local order and the SrTiO3 photocatalytic properties. We use X-ray diffraction to determine the long-range structure, while the local environment around the Ti atom is probed with X-ray absorption spectroscopy and the vibration frequencies are investigated by Raman spectroscopy. The faster crystallization of SrTiO3 powders provided by the MAH system resulted in large distortions of Ti–O bond lengths which remain unchanged even for a longer MAH treatment time. Despite the long-range structure being associated with ideal TiO6 clusters, X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements identified the presence of undercoordinated TiO5 clusters. Compared with the reference bulk SrTiO3, the hierarchical SrTiO3 cube-like shape showed enhanced photocatalytic activity, which was associated with the presence of these TiO5 clusters. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) revealed that the superstructures based on a cube-like shape are formed by an assembly process, becoming well defined as a function of MAH treatment time.

Graphical abstract: Long-range and short-range structures of cube-like shape SrTiO3 powders: microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and photocatalytic activity

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/C3CP50643F
Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 Feb 2013
Accepted
28 May 2013
First published
28 May 2013

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013,15, 12386-12393

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Long-range and short-range structures of cube-like shape SrTiO3 powders: microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and photocatalytic activity

L. F. da Silva, W. Avansi, J. Andrés, C. Ribeiro, M. L. Moreira, E. Longo and V. R. Mastelaro, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2013, 15, 12386 DOI: 10.1039/C3CP50643F

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