The substrates were degassed and stored under argon prior
to use. The ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate
(BMI.BF4) used for the synthesis of TiO2 NPs was
prepared from a reported procedure [29]. All the other chemicals
were purchased from commercial sources. Mass spectra were
obtained using a GC–MS Schimadzu QP-5050 (EI, 70 eV) and gas
chromatography analyses were performed with an Agilent Technologies
6820 gas chromatograph with a flame ionisation detector
and 30 m capillary column with a (5%-phenyl)-methylpolysiloxane
stationary phase.