Influencing Factors of Dispersion Stability and Photocatalytic Performance of Nano-TiO2 in Water

doi:10.16552/j.cnki.issn1001-1625.2025.1251

Abstract

Abstract:

The dispersion stability of nano-TiO₂ greatly affects tis application performance. In this paper， nano-TiO₂ with different particle sizes were prepared by the sol-gel method and dispersed in water. The dispersion stability of nano-TiO₂ under different conditions was characterized and analyzed， and its photocatalytic performance in degrading Rhodamine B was investigated. The results show that the sedimentation rate of nano-TiO₂ in water decreases with the decrease of particle size of nano-TiO₂. The dispersion stability of the nano-TiO₂ suspension is the best when pH 2. At pH 4， the sedimentation rate is high because this pH value is close to the isoelectric point. The absolute value of Zeta potential in an alkaline environment is lower than that in an acidic environment， resulting in poor stability of the nano-TiO₂ suspension. Sodium hexametaphosphate exhibits the best dispersion performance on nano-TiO₂. When the dosage of sodium hexametaphosphate is 30% （mass fraction）， the nano-TiO₂ suspension still maintains excellent stability after 10 d. Higher dispersion stability of nano-TiO₂ corresponds to higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency. With nano-TiO₂ of 31.0 nm， sodium hexametaphosphate as the dispersant， and pH value of the nano-TiO₂ suspension adjusted to 2， the degradation rate of Rhodamine B solution reaches 90.1% at 30 min and 99.2% at 60 min， indicating that improving the dispersion of nano-TiO₂ in water significantly enhances its photocatalytic efficiency.

Key words: TiO₂, stability, dispersant, photocatalytic performance, nanopowder, Zeta potential

CLC Number:

TB383

LI Yuxiang, ZHAO Rong, LU Bo, YAN Wenli, MA Yibo, FAN Haihong, CHENG Feng. Influencing Factors of Dispersion Stability and Photocatalytic Performance of Nano-TiO₂ in Water[J]. BULLETIN OF THE CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY, 2026, 45(7): 2540-2548.

Figures/Tables 10

Table 1 Reagent amounts and grain size for preparing different nano-TiO2 samples

Sample No.	Reagent amounts/mL				Grain size/nm
Sample No.	C₁₆H₃₆O₄Ti	C₂H₅OH	CH₃COOH	H₂O	Grain size/nm
T1	10	60	10	25	80.9
T2	5	60	10	20	44.6
T3	10	60	10	30	83.7
T4	10	60	10	10	31.0
T5	15	60	10	20	80.9
T6	8	60	10	20	70.3

Fig.1 XRD patterns of nano-TiO2 samples prepared by different reagent ratios

Fig.2 SEM images of nano-TiO2 samples prepared by different reagent ratios

Fig.3 Sedimentation status and absorbance curves of nano-TiO2 suspension with different particle sizes after 36 h

Fig.4 Sedimentation status and absorbance curves of nano-TiO2 suspension with different pH values after 36 h

Fig.5 Variation curve of Zeta potential of nano-TiO2 suspension with pH value

Fig.6 Sedimentation status and absorbance curves of nano-TiO2 suspension with different dispersants

Fig.7 Degradation efficiency curves and degradation rate curves for Rhodamine B photocatalytic degradation by nano-TiO2 under different conditions

Fig.8 Degradation efficiency curve， degradation rate curve， and color-change photograph for Rhodamine B photocatalytic degradation by nano-TiO2 under optimal condition （T4， pH=2， SHMP）

Table 2 Degradation kinetics equation of Rhodamine B solution

Condition	Degradation kinetics equation	k/min^-1	R²
T4	ln（C₀/C_t ）=0.024 0t+0.051 0	0.024 0	0.991 9
T2	ln（C₀/C_t ）=0.014 9t-0.052 2	0.014 9	0.991 7
T1	ln（C₀/C_t ）=0.013 0t-0.048 9	0.013 0	0.987 3
pH=2	ln（C₀/C_t ）=0.047 9t+0.355 7	0.047 9	0.912 9
pH=3	ln（C₀/C_t ）=0.029 0t+0.065 4	0.029 0	0.980 6
pH=9	ln（C₀/C_t ）=0.006 6t+0.027 5	0.006 6	0.989 0
pH=10	ln（C₀/C_t ）=0.007 2t+0.019 5	0.007 2	0.993 4
PEG400	ln（C₀/C_t ）=0.025 2t+0.131 3	0.025 2	0.965 2
SHMP	ln（C₀/C_t ）=0.036 3t+0.224 3	0.036 3	0.937 6
SDBS	ln（C₀/C_t ）=0.030 6t+0.226 3	0.030 6	0.953 3
T4， pH=2， SHMP	ln（C₀/C_t ）=0.056 0t+0.448 1	0.056 0	0.893 0

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Influencing Factors of Dispersion Stability and Photocatalytic Performance of Nano-TiO₂ in Water

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