Synthesis and Characterization of Ruthenium Doped TiO_2 Nanofibers

Abstract

Ruthenium(Ru)-doped TiO_2 nanofibers were prepared using electrospun Ru-TiO_2/poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) fibers and subsequent annealing for 1 h at temperatures in the range of 500℃ to 1000℃ in air. The properties of the Ru-TiO_2 fibers were characterized as a function of the Ru content and calcination temperature using X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetry with differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and viscometer, pycnometer and dynamic tensiometer measurements. Although the diameter of the fiber decreased slightly with increasing calcination temperature, no dramatic changes were observed with respect to the ruthenium content. The XRD and FT-IR results revealed that anatase phase and ruthenium metal began to be formed after calcination at temperatures above 500℃. Anatase and rutile phases and ruthenium metal coexisted in the fibers calcined above 600℃. No anatase phase was detected in the fibers containing ruthenium when they were calcined at 1000℃. The morphology of the fibers changed from smooth and uniform to porous with increasing temperature. The experimental results suggest that the calcination temperature and Ru content were influential in determining the morphology and structure of the fibers.