Fullerene nanowhiskers at liquid–liquid interface: A facile template for metal oxide (TiO2, CeO2) nanofibers and their photocatalytic activity

Fullerene nanowhiskers (FNWs) based soft template approach was demonstrated for the preparation of metal oxide (TiO2 and CeO2) nanofibers. FNWs incorporating metal-ions (Ti, Ce) were prepared using liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation method (LLIP). The XRD, TG–DTA, SEM and TEM analysis were used to characterize the fullerene nanowhiskers incorporating metal-ions and metal oxide (TiO2 and CeO2) nanofibers. The TG analysis demonstrates that 12 and 14 wt% of TiO2 and CeO2 nanofibers could be prepared from the fullerene nanowhiskers (FNWs) template, respectively. The STEM elemental mapping analysis of FNWs incorporating metal-ions reveals that the Ti-ions were uniformly distributed throughout the FNWs and Ce-ions were adsorbed on the surface of the FNWs rather than incorporating inside the FNWs due to larger size. XRD diffraction studies on FNWs incorporating metal-ions and heat treated FNWs indicate that metal-ions does not had significant impact on the crystalline nature of the FNWs. And, high temperature heat treatment results the formation of anatase crystalline TiO2 and cubic fluorite CeO2 crystalline structure. Raman spectra of FNWs incorporating metal-ions reveal that there is no concrete evidence for the existence of interaction between C60 and metal-ions. The obtained TiO2 nanofibers show excellent photocatalytic decomposition activity for gaseous IPA under UV light.