Direct fabrication of anatase/activated carbon nano-hybrid materials by hydrothermal with ball milling method at low temperature

Nano-hybrid materials of anatase and activated carbon were fabricated in a single step by a hydrothermal with ball milling method (H with B) using a conventional autoclave and SiC balls at 180°C. To investigate the influence of ball milling and activated carbon, a hydrothermal method without ball milling (H without B) and a carbonless hydrothermal method with ball milling (Carbonless H with B) were performed. By comparing the three samples based on Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) observation and Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED) analysis, it was revealed that TiO₂ particles in the hybrid materials heterogeneously nucleate on the activated carbon and have a tendency of crystal growth along the c axis under the given experimental condition. The crystal growth direction was controlled isotropically by assisting the ball milling during reaction. The balls seem to act as a stirrer rather than a grinder for the sample containing the activated carbon.