Hydrothermal conversion of Mg₂TiO₄ into brookite-type TiO₂ under mild conditions

A simple and mild synthetic route via a hydrothermal treatment of Mg ₂TiO₄ has been developed to prepare brookite-type TiO ₂. The hydrothermal conversion of Mg₂TiO₄ to brookite proceeded in 1 M HCl solution even at 100 C. The converted brookite grains were composed of the angular particles covered on the textured surface, leaving the original morphology of Mg₂TiO₄ grains. Compared with the commercially available TiO₂ catalysts (rutile, anatase, and P25), the brookite obtained in this study showed a good photocatalytic activity toward the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde under a simulated sunlight irradiation.