Processes to solubilize the titanium and, later, hydrolyze it as titanium dioxide, in part based on the mineral ogical complexity of the anatase ore. The process described is capable of sufficiently solubilizing titanium in anatase using H.sub.2SO.sub.4, while overcoming the low reactivity of the ore to this acid. Moreover, the process does not require a reduction step prior to anatase digestion.

Processes to solubilize the titanium and, later, hydrolyze it as titanium dioxide, in part based on the mineral ogical complexity of the anatase ore. The process described is capable of sufficiently solubilizing titanium in anatase using H.sub.2SO.sub.4, while overcoming the low reactivity of the ore to this acid. Moreover, the process does not require a reduction step prior to anatase digestion.

A particulate TiO.sub.2 includes a TiO.sub.2 content of at least 99 wt.-%, an anatase content of at least 98 wt.-%, a primary crystallite size X.sub.50 of at least 200 nm, a numerical fraction of TiO.sub.2 with a primary crystallite size of at most 100 nm of at most 10%, a specific surface area of at most 8 m.sup.2/g as determined by BET measurements, 1200 ppm to 2400 ppm of alkali with respect to the TiO.sub.2 content, an Al content of 1 ppm to 1000 ppm, expressed as Al and with respect to the TiO.sub.2 content, a weight ratio of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 to Nb.sub.2O.sub.5 of from 0.17 to 0.74, and 0.1 wt.-% to 0.3 wt.-% of P, expressed as phosphorus and with respect to the TiO.sub.2 content.

A particulate TiO.sub.2 includes a TiO.sub.2 content of at least 99 wt.-%, an anatase content of at least 98 wt.-%, a primary crystallite size X.sub.50 of at least 200 nm, a numerical fraction of TiO.sub.2 with a primary crystallite size of at most 100 nm of at most 10%, a specific surface area of at most 8 m.sup.2/g as determined by BET measurements, 1200 ppm to 2400 ppm of alkali with respect to the TiO.sub.2 content, an Al content of 1 ppm to 1000 ppm, expressed as Al and with respect to the TiO.sub.2 content, a weight ratio of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 to Nb.sub.2O.sub.5 of from 0.17 to 0.74, and 0.1 wt.-% to 0.3 wt.-% of P, expressed as phosphorus and with respect to the TiO.sub.2 content.

A nano-functionalized support comprises an application surface and a photocatalytic nanoparticle coating deposited on the application surface. The photocatalytic nanoparticle coating comprises titanium dioxide doped with a nitrogen-containing doping agent.

A nano-functionalized support comprises an application surface and a photocatalytic nanoparticle coating deposited on the application surface. The photocatalytic nanoparticle coating comprises titanium dioxide doped with a nitrogen-containing doping agent.

The present invention generally relates to a method for preparing metal oxide nanosheets. In a preferred embodiment, graphene oxide (GO) or graphite oxide is employed as a template or structure directing agent for the formation of the metal oxide nanosheets, wherein the template is mixed with metal oxide precursor to form a metal oxide precursor-bonded template. Subsequently, the metal oxide precursor-bonded template is calcined to form the metal oxide nanosheets. The present invention also relates to a lithium-ion battery anode comprising the metal oxide nanosheets. In a further preferred embodiment, the battery anode may comprising reduced template, which is reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or reduced graphite oxide.

The present invention generally relates to a method for preparing metal oxide nanosheets. In a preferred embodiment, graphene oxide (GO) or graphite oxide is employed as a template or structure directing agent for the formation of the metal oxide nanosheets, wherein the template is mixed with metal oxide precursor to form a metal oxide precursor-bonded template. Subsequently, the metal oxide precursor-bonded template is calcined to form the metal oxide nanosheets. The present invention also relates to a lithium-ion battery anode comprising the metal oxide nanosheets. In a further preferred embodiment, the battery anode may comprising reduced template, which is reduced graphene oxide (rGO) or reduced graphite oxide.

In producing titanium oxide containing rutile-type crystals by adding hydrochloric acid to an aqueous dispersion of an alkali metal titanate, sulfurous acid, disulfurous acid, sulfuric acid or a salt thereof is added. Thus, there is provided a titanium oxide powder which is doped with bivalent sulfur atoms (S.sup.2−) and in which a ratio (I.sub.A/I.sub.R) of a peak intensity (I.sub.A) of anatase-type crystals to a peak intensity (I.sub.R) of rutile-type crystals as measured by X-ray diffractometry is 0.1 or less. Moreover, a cosmetic is provided by dispersing the titanium oxide powder in a dispersion medium. Thus, bluish color derived from Rayleigh scattering is negated, providing a dispersion, particularly a cosmetic, with excellent transparency and color tone.

In producing titanium oxide containing rutile-type crystals by adding hydrochloric acid to an aqueous dispersion of an alkali metal titanate, sulfurous acid, disulfurous acid, sulfuric acid or a salt thereof is added. Thus, there is provided a titanium oxide powder which is doped with bivalent sulfur atoms (S.sup.2−) and in which a ratio (I.sub.A/I.sub.R) of a peak intensity (I.sub.A) of anatase-type crystals to a peak intensity (I.sub.R) of rutile-type crystals as measured by X-ray diffractometry is 0.1 or less. Moreover, a cosmetic is provided by dispersing the titanium oxide powder in a dispersion medium. Thus, bluish color derived from Rayleigh scattering is negated, providing a dispersion, particularly a cosmetic, with excellent transparency and color tone.