Ferrihydrite surface functionalization of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles as flower-like core-shell heterostructure with enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties

Date

2025-07-15

Authors

Gherca, Daniel
Borhan, Adrian Iulian
Herea, Daniel-Dumitru
Minuti, Anca Emanuela
Stavila, Cristina
Danceanu, Camelia Mihaela
Popescu, Dana-Georgeta
Borca, Camelia Nicoleta
Huthwelker, Thomas
Stoian, George

Director

Publisher

Elsevier
Acceso abierto / Sarbide irekia
Artículo / Artikulua
Versión publicada / Argitaratu den bertsioa

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Abstract

The development of titania-based hybrid nanostructures with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity has been a key research area recently. The present study addresses current limitations of the TiO2 based composite photocatalyst by newly-experimental designing of flower-like multifunctional hybrid nanostructure with visible light capability through Ferrihydrite (Fh) surface TiO2 functionalization. Here, we present a versatile nanocompartimentalization process of which, core anatase TiO2 nanoparticles are emebeded into Fh lamellar shell. Physico-chemical properties related to the chemical structure and morphology of the prepared nanomaterials were comprehensively analysed using complementary analytical techniques, such as powder X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Ultra-High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (UHR-TEM), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and soft X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). The conducted visible-light-driven photocatalytic water splitting tests highlights significant enhancement in the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) performance for TiO2-Fh core-shell nanoheterostructure of 25.6 μmol/L of molecular oxygen after 60 min of visible light irradiation (AM1.5G), and a photocatalytic water oxidation activity rate of 341.3 μmol l-1 g-1h-1. The biocompatibility assessment of the developed core-shell structures combined with their enhanced photocatalytic water oxidation activity under visible light illumination suits them as excellent candidates for the development of sustainable environmental remediation technologies.

Description

Keywords

Ferrihydrite surface functionalization, Core-shell nanostructure, TiO2 based heterostructure, Heterogeneous photocatalysis, Oxygen evolution reaction

Department

Ciencias / Zientziak / Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics - INAMAT2

Faculty/School

Degree

Doctorate program

item.page.cita

Gherca, D., Borhan, A. I., Herea, D. D., Minuti, A. E., Stavila, C., Danceanu, C. M., Popescu, D. G., Borca, C. N., Huthwelker, T., Stoian, G., Chiriac, H., Polo, C. G., Ababei, G., Lupu, N. (2025). Ferrihydrite surface functionalization of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles as flower-like core-shell heterostructure with enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties. Surfaces and Interfaces, 69, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfin.2025.106745.

item.page.rights

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license.

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