• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.2255-2259
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• 2012

Aggregation of titania nanotubes (TNTs) fabricated by hydrothermal method were calcined in air and dry nitrogen; Changes in morphology and crystallinity of the nanotubes were studied by means of TEM, EDX, and XPS. EDX patterns and XPS spectra proved that there were a certain densities of oxygen vacancies in TNTs annealed in $N_2$. The photocatalysis experiments revealed TNTs/$N_2$ possesses significantly higher photocatalytic efficiency than TNTs annealed in dry air to degrade methylene blue. The correlation between oxygen vacancies and photocatalytic property may be attributed to: 1) oxygen vacancies might have affected results on water molecules adsorption and increase of the hydroxyl concentration; and 2) oxygen vacancies resulted in some changes in electronic structure of TNTs/$N_2$ aggregation and Fermi level extends into the conducting band.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.25-29
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• 2012

$TiO_2$ nanotubes are prepared from rutile prticles via an alkaline hydrothermal synthesis and the consequent heat treatment at $300{\sim}500^{\circ}C$. The physical and electrochemical properties of the $TiO_2$ nanotubes are characterized for use as a anode material of rechargeable lithium battery. In particular, the microscale dusts as an impurity component occurred in the purification step after the hydrothermal reaction are completely removed to yield $TiO_2$ nanotube with a higher specific surface area and more obvious crystalline phases. As the annealing temperature increases, the specific surface area is slightly decreased due to some aggregation between the isotropically dispersed nanotubes. Highest initial discharge capacity of 250 mAh $g^{-1}$ is achieved for the $TiO_2$ nanotube annealed at $300^{\circ}C$, whereas the $400^{\circ}C$ $TiO_2$ nanotube shows the superior cycle performance and high-rate capability.