Titanium dioxide nanorod and preparation method thereof

• US 20070116640A1
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Original Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Inventors: Kim, Dong-Young, Chin, Byung-Doo, Jo, Seong-Mu, Ahn, Jae-Pyoung, Ahn, Young-Rack, Song, Mi-Yeon
• Application Number:
  US11/454,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20070116640A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 423/610
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C01G 23/053 Producing by wet processes, e.g. hydrolysing titanium salts
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/72 by d-values or two theta-values, e.g. as X-ray diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/03 obtained by SEM
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/16 Nanowires or nanorods, i.e. solid nanofibres with two nearly equal dimensions between 1-100 nanometer
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/441 Alkoxides, e.g. methoxide, tert-butoxide
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/62259 Fibres based on titanium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/63416 Polyvinylalcohols [PVA]; Polyvinylacetates
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 35/63432 Polystyrenes
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0038 the fibre formed by solvent evaporation, i.e. dry electro-spinning
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 9/08 of inorganic material working or processing of metal wire B21F; from softened glass, minerals or slags C03B37/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2031 comprising titanium oxide, e.g. TiO2 H01G9/2036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2059 comprising an organic dye as the active light absorbing material, e.g. adsorbed on an electrode or dissolved in solution
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/542 Dye sensitized solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A titanium dioxide nanorod having anisotropy and a preparation method thereof in which, particularly, an ultrafine composite fiber of polymer and titanium dioxide precursor and a single crystal titanium dioxide nanorod using a phase separation are prepared, wherein a mixed solution containing titanium dioxide precursor, polymer which is compatible with the precursor and solvent is prepared, the mixed solution is electrospun to form titanium dioxide polymer composite fiber containing ultrafine fibril structure therein by the phase separation between the titanium dioxide precursor and the polymer, the composite fiber is heat-pressed, and the polymer material is removed from the composite fiber, so as to obtain titanium dioxide nanorod, which can be used as dye-sensitized solar cells, various sensors, and photocatalysts.

Claims

1. Preparation method of Titanium dioxide nanorod comprising:

preparing a mixed solution containing a titanium dioxide precursor, a polymer which is compatible with the precursor and solvent;

spinning the mixed solution to form a titanium dioxide polymer composite fiber containing ultrafine fibril structure formed therein by a phase separation between the titanium dioxide precursor and the polymer;

heat-pressing the composite fiber; and

removing the polymer material from the composite fiber to obtain titanium dioxide nanorods.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the spinning of the mixed solution is carried out using an electrospinning device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the composite fiber is deposited on an earthed metal plate, a transparent conductive glass substrate coated with a ITO or FTO or a transparent plastic substrate.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the ultrafine fibril is aligned in an axial direction of the composite fiber.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the titanium dioxide nanorod has a single crystal structure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymer is one of poly(vinyl acetate), Poly (vinylpyrroli done), and polyethylene oxide.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the heat-pressing process is performed by applying pressure over a glass transition temperature of the polymer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mixed solution is electrospun using methods such as melt-blown, flash spinning, or electrostatic-melt blown.

9. A single crystal titanium dioxide nanorod prepared according to the method of claim 1.

10. A dye-sensitized solar cell using a metal plate, a transparent conductive glass substrate coated with ITO or FTO or a plastic substrate, on which a titanium dioxide nanorod aggregate prepared according to the method of claim 1 is formed.

11. A sensor using a metal plate having thereon a titanium dioxide nanorod aggregate prepared according to the method of claim 1, a transparent conductive glass substrate coated with ITO or FTO, or a plastic substrate.

12. A photocatalyst using a single crystal titanium dioxide nanorod prepared according to the method of claim 1.