Solvothermal synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity of flowerlike nanoarchitectures assembled from anatase TiO2 nanoflakes

TiO2 nanoflakes assembled flowerlike nanoarchitectures with diameters of 1.70–2.20 μm were synthesized by a solvothermal reaction of butyl titanate with isopropyl alcohol, HF and H2O at 180 °C for 12 h. The constituent nanoflakes have perfect rectangular shapes with the typical widths of 0.81–0.95 μm, lengths of 1.04–1.20 μm and thicknesses of 0.10–0.12 μm. The constituent nanoflakes are formed due to the selective adsorption of isopropyl alcohol on (0 1 0) surface of anatase TiO2. These anatase TiO2 nanoflakes assemble into flowerlike structures driven by the electrostatic attraction. The as-prepared TiO2 flowerlike nanoarchitectures exhibit enhanced photocatalytic ability to degrade methyl orange dye in comparison with commercial TiO2 powders. The photodegradation of methyl orange dye catalyzed by the anatase TiO2 nanoflake assembled flowerlike nanostructures fits a pseudo first-order reaction.