JNM Journal of Nanomaterials 1687-4129 1687-4110 Hindawi 10.1155/2019/4825432 4825432 Research Article One-Pot Synthesis of Titanate Nanotubes Decorated with Anatase Nanoparticles Using a Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Reaction Gusmão Suziete B. S.suzisoaresgusmao@gmail.com1 http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9416-5858 Ghosh Anupamaanupama1984@gmail.com2 Marques Thalles M. F.marquesttt@gmail.com3 http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8274-5222 Ferreira Odair P.opferreira@gmail.com4 Lobo Anderson O.lobo@ufpi.edu.br15 Osajima Josy A. O.josy_osajima@yahoo.com.br1 Luz-Lima Cleaniocleanio@ufpi.edu.br2 Sousa Romulo R. M.romulorms@gmail.com1 Matos Jose M. E.jmematos@ufpi.edu.br6 http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5207-4269 Viana Bartolomeu C.bartolomeu@ufpi.edu.br12 Yu Zhen 1 Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Advanced Materials Materials Science and Engineering Graduate Program Federal University of Piaui Teresina PI CEP 64049-550 Brazilufpi.br 2 FisMat Department of Physics Federal University of Piaui Teresina PI CEP 64049-550 Brazilufpi.br 3 Federal Institute of Technology Ciência e Tecnologia do Piauí São João do Piauí PI 64760-000 Brazilifpi.edu.br 4 Laboratory of Advanced Functional Materials Department of Physics Federal University of Ceará Fortaleza CE CEP 60455-900 Brazilufc.br 5 Department of Chemistry Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge MA 02139 USAmit.edu 6 Department of Chemistry Federal University of Piaui Teresina PI CEP 64049-550 Brazilufpi.br 2019 1432019 2019 27 11 2018 20 01 2019 1432019 2019 Copyright © 2019 Suziete B. S. Gusmão et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

A nanoheterostructure of titanate nanotubes decorated with anatase nanoparticles (TiNT@AnNP) was synthesized for the first time by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal one-pot reaction. Characterization by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected-area electron diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed highly crystalline and nanometer-sized TiNT@AnNP. The synthesized TiNT@AnNP degraded an anionic dye (Remazol blue) more efficiently under UV-visible light (380–780 nm) than a commercial anatase-TiO2 precursor. We correlated this increased efficiency of photodegradation to the large surface area and the efficient separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. Finally, we propose a mechanism to highlight the influence of a microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis in the production of TiNT@AnNP for environmental applications.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico303752/2017-3PVE 400397/2014-5305632/2016-7Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior183995Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Piauí001/2018