Synthesis of titanium dioxide nanotube derived from ilmenite mineral through post-hydrothermal treatment and its photocatalytic performance

Ilmenite (FeTiO3) is a suitable mineral to produce titanium dioxide (TiO2) for photocatalyst applications. Therefore, this research was conducted synthesize TiO2 material from oxysulfate (TiOSO4) extracted Indonesia local ilmenite and modify into nanotubes through hydrothermal process at 150 °C 24 hours followed by post-hydrothermal treatment with temperature variations of 80,100, 120, 12 hours. The purpose investigate the effect on crystal structure, morphology, optical properties produced. It discovered scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations that nanotube successfully derived precursor. Moreover, X-Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis structure showed enhanced crystallinity anatase phase even though sodium titanate observed exist in structure. increase 80 also have led to: 1) reduction unit cell volume 136.37 132.31 Å3 decrease lattice constant c 9.519 9.426 Å; 2) an density 7.783 8.081 gr/cm3 as well crystallite size 19.185 25.745 nm; 3) bandgap energy (Eg), 3.33 3.02 eV. These characteristics further indicate ability photocatalytic performance enhance degradation efficiency 87.69 97.11 %. This means FeTiO3 can provide expected