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Organisationseinheit der BAM
An overview is given on the synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles with well-defined nonspherical shapes (platelet like, bipyramidal, and elongated), with the focus on controlled, reproducible synthesis, as a key requirement for the production of reference materials with homogeneous and stable properties. Particularly with regard to the nanoparticle shapes, there is a high need of certified materials,
solely one material of this type being commercially available since a few months (elongated TiO2). Further, measurement approaches with electron microscopy as the golden method to tackle the nanoparticle shape are developed to determine accurately the size and shape distribution for such nonspherical particles. A prerequisite for accurate and easy (i.e., automated) image analysis is the sample preparation, which ideally must ensure a deposition of the nanoparticles from liquid suspension onto a substrate such that the particles do not overlap, are solvent-free, and have a high deposition density. Challenges in the Synthesis of perfectly monodispersed and solvent-free TiO2 nanoparticles of platelet and acicular shapes are highlighted as well as successful measurement approaches on how to extract from 2D projection electron micrographs the most accurate spatial information, that is, true 3D size, for example, of the bipyramidal nanoparticles with different geometrical orientations on a substrate.
The conversion of solar energy into electricity and solar fuels is of crucial importance for a green and sustainable future. Water splitting using semiconductor photo-catalysts is considered a sustainable method to produce clean hydrogen (H2) fuel. Nevertheless, H2 photo-production efficiency remains still low, although extensive research works to understand better the mechanisms of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) and the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) are being carried out. In this respect, TiO2 is a key photoactive material, usually employed with a co-catalyst deposited onto the surface to enhance charge carriers’ separation and catalyze surface charge transfer reactions. The deposition of a co-catalyst on the TiO2 nanoparticle surface represents one successful way to enhance the activity of the photocatalyst through a modification of its surface and redox properties. In this context, high-resolution scanning electron microscopy coupled with elemental analysis by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) is fundamental for studying and understanding the effect of the nanoparticle morphology on the functional properties of shape-controlled TiO2 crystals (bipyramides, platelets, and elongated particles). Different types of metal-semiconductor combinations, TiO2 shapes and dopant metals (Ag, Pt, etc) and metal concentrations will be discussed.
Hydrogen production via formate photoreforming on TiO2 is characterized by marked dependence on the ratio between {101} and {001} surfaces for anatase nanoparticles. We observed higher rates of hydrogen Evolution with the increase of the {101} facets presence, owing to their reductive nature.
This helps the Pt photodeposition in the early stages of Irradiation and, then, the hydrogen ion reduction reaction. The selective photodeposition of 2 nm Pt nanoparticles on {101} facets was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs. The results are confirmed also by experiments carried out without the use of Pt as cocatalyst and by photoelectrochemical measurements.
The work also explains the marginal effect of the fluorination on the H2 evolution.
Influence of agglomeration and aggregation on the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles
(2017)
Particle aggregation and agglomeration influence the optical properties of materials and therefore theirability to absorb and scatter the incoming radiation, also affecting their photocatalytic activity. Wehave studied the correlation between aggregation and photocatalytic activity for titanium dioxide bymeans of experimental measurements of extinction and photocatalytic activity and calculations of theiroptical properties (extinction, absorption and scattering cross-sections). This approach can be adoptedto quantitatively assess the quantum yields of the heterogeneous photocatalytic systems. The study wasperformed on TiO2PC105 Cristal ACTiVTM, made of aggregated (and agglomerated) primary particles of anatase. The size of the aggregates has been reduced with ultra-sonication. Aqueous suspensions of the obtained materials were characterized by measuring the optical properties (UV–vis extinction), the sizing properties (DLS) and the photocatalytic activity (degradation of phenol under standard con-ditions). The extinction and absorption spectra of the suspensions were derived from the calculatedcoefficients, considering also the size distributions measured with DLS, and revealed that light absorptionis maximized when particle aggregation and agglomeration are avoided, while diffusion of the incomingradiation dominates when large aggregates and agglomerates are present. The present paper represents a valuable approach to the accurate and reproducible measurement of the photocatalytic activity ofTiO2nanoparticles suspensions, thus allowing a more reliable comparison of the properties of different materials.
In the present work a series of design rules are developed in order to tune the morphology of TiO2 nanoparticles through hydrothermal process. Through a careful experimental design, the influence of relevant process parameters on the synthesis outcome are studied, reaching to the develop predictive models by using Machine Learning methods. The models, after the validation and training, are able to predict with high accuracy the synthesis outcome in terms of nanoparticle size, polydispersity and aspect ratio. Furthermore, they are implemented by reverse engineering approach to do the inverse process, i.e. obtain the optimal synthesis parameters given a specific product characteristic. For the first time, it is presented a synthesis method that allows continuous and precise control of NPs morphology with the possibility to tune the aspect ratio over a large range from 1.4 (perfect truncated bipyramids) to 6 (elongated nanoparticles) and the length from 20 to 140 nm.
TiO2 anatase nanoparticles are among the relevant players in the field of light-responsive semiconductor nanomaterials used to face environmental and energy issues. In particular, shape-engineered TiO2 anatase nanosheets with dominant {001} basal facets gained momentum because of the possibility to exploit different and/or improved functional behaviors with respect to usual bipyramidal TiO2 anatase nanoparticles, mainly exposing {101} facets. Nevertheless, such behavior depends in a significant extent on the physicochemical features of surfaces exposed by nanosheets.
They can vary in dependence on the presence or removal degree of capping agents, namely, fluorides, used for shape-engineering, and experimental investigations in this respect are still a few. Here we report on the evolution of interfacial/ surface features of TiO2 anatase nanosheets with dominant {001} facets from pristine nanoparticles fluorinated both in the bulk and at their surface to nanoparticles with F− free surfaces by treatment in a basic solution and to totally F− free nanoparticles by calcination at 873 K.
The nanoparticles fluorine content and its subsequent evolution is determined by complementary techniques (ion chromatography, TOF-SIMS, XPS, AES, SEM-EDX), probing different depths. In parallel, the evolution of the electronic properties and the Ti valence state is monitored by UV−vis spectroscopy and XPS. The calcination treatment results in {001} facets poorly hydroxylated, hydrated, and hydrophilic, which appear as surface features consequent to the expected (1 × 4) reconstruction. Moreover, IR spectroscopy of CO adsorbed as probe molecule indicates that the Lewis acidity of Ti4+ sites exposed on (1 × 4) reconstructed {001} facets of calcined TiO2 nanosheets is weaker than that of cationic centers on {101} facets of bipyramidal TiO2 anatase nanoparticles. The samples have also been tested in phenol photodegradation highlighting that differences in surface hydration, hydroxylation, and Lewis acidity between TiO2 nanoparticles with nanosheet (freed by F− by calcination at 873 K) and bipyramidal shape have a strong impact on the photocatalytic activity that is found to be quite limited for the nanoparticles mainly exposing (1 × 4) reconstructed {001} facets.
Most industrial nanoparticles have non-spherical shapes and also possess polydisperse size distributions, and due to their agglomeration/ aggregation state are difficult (or even impossible) to be addressed individually. Further, driven by regulatory purposes related to the identification of a material as a nanomaterial, the accurate measurement of the smallest dimension of a (nano)particulate material makes the analysis even more complex.
In the first phase of the EU Project nPSize - Improved traceability chain of nanoparticle size measurements (https://www.bam.de/Content/DE/Projekte/laufend/nPSize/npsize.html), the efforts are focused on synthesis of nanoparticles of well-defined, non-spherical shape. Following candidates of reference materials (CRM) with certifiable particle size (distribution) are under characterization with respect to their homogeneity and stability: (i) titania nanoplatelets (10-15 nm thickness x 50-60 nm lateral), (ii) titania bipyramides (~60 nm length x 40 nm width), (iii) titania acicular particles (100 nm length x 15-20 nm width; aspect ratio 5.5/6), (iv) gold nanorods (~10 nm width x 30 nm length), and (v) gold nanocubes (~55 nm x 55 nm x 55 nm).
The synthesis of TiO2 was studied in an original
hydrothermal process that uses triethanolamine titanium complex Ti(TeoaH)2 as a Ti precursor and triethanolamine (TeoaH3) as a shape controller to obtain bipyramidal anatase nanoparticles.
Backed-up by experimental evidence, i.e., time profiles for Ti(IV) species concentrations together with crystal shape and particle size distributions measured by dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy, a mathematical model was built. The model includes chemical reactions responsible for TiO2 generation in solution and the subsequent anatase nucleation and crystal growth. The oriented attachment mechanism was adopted to explain the build-up of crystals with equilibrium anatase structure (Wulff structure) and time-varying shape factor. This complex mathematical model was solved writing and validating an in-house
software using the Matlab (Natick, MA, USA) environment. The process was simulated for a batch time of 50 h, and the results, in terms of main species concentration and crystal size distributions, are in rather good agreement with the experimental measurements.
Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles (NPs) are one of the main sources of the nanoparticulate matter to which humans are directly exposed and several studies have demonstrated their potential toxic effects. The in vivo detailed spatial distribution of TiO₂ NPs is investigated herein for the first time, using a 2D chemical imaging analysis based on confocal Raman spectroscopy. The invertebrate nematode C. elegans was employed as a prototypical model of living organisms. Rod, bipyramidal and quasispherical engineered TiO₂ NPs with different primary particle sizes and agglomeration states were prepared, characterized and then administered to nematodes. Exploiting the typical fingerprint of TiO₂ in the Raman spectrum, we monitored the biodistribution of NPs inside the worm using a non-invasive, label-free method. The high spatial resolution chemical imaging and the specificity of the Raman technique in the localization of TiO₂ NPs helped in the design of behavioral C. elegans studies aimed at elucidating the relationship among the size, shape, and agglomeration state of NPs and their ability to induce specific toxic effects. Rod-shaped NPs were the most toxic, greatly impairing pharyngeal function, reproduction and larval growth; this indicates that the rod shape, more than the bipyramidal and spherical shapes, enables NPs to interact with biological systems. These findings indicate that this Raman-nematode combined approach represents a step forward in the field of detection of NPs in living organisms, and being rapid and inexpensive enough, it can be applied as the first screening for the ability of NPs to biodistribute and exert toxicological properties in vivo.
A case study on the TEM analysis of the size and shape distribution of TiO2 bipyramidal nanoparticles prepared on TEM grids was included in the recently published ISO standard ISO 21363. It was agreed to organize at a later stage a second inter-lab comparison with the nanoparticles distributed to the participants as a liquid suspension. Protocols for uniform nanoparticle deposition on suited supports developed and optimized within the EMPIR nPSize project are also prepared to be distributed. For this, we have chosen the VAMAS platform (www.vamas.org) which offers an excellent international infrastructure of laboratories with high competence in nanoparticle measurement. The VAMAS technical working area dedicated to nanoparticle measurement is TWA 34 ‘Nanoparticle populations’. For this type of nanoparticles, the size and shape distributions are the primary parameters to be reported. Due to the good deposition protocols developed, an automated image analysis is enabled (in contrast to the manual analysis of irregular TiO2 nanoparticles.
In parallel with the TiO2 nanoparticle exercise, two spherical SiO2 nanoparticle samples with bi-modal size distributions (nominal relative number concentrations of 1:1 and 10:1) are prepared for a second VAMAS inter-lab comparison. Here, the nanoparticle concentration is the primary parameter to be measured. For the imaging methods it is targeted to measure the relative nanoparticle concentrations of the two modes. For the absolute nanoparticle concentration to be measured by imaging methods it is necessary to control the volume of the liquid suspension deposited on the substrate and to obtain such a homogeneous nanoparticle deposition on the substrate which allows to count (or extrapolate) all the deposited particles.