Rapid Hydrolysis of Organophosphorous Esters Induced by Nanostructured, Fluorine‐Doped Titania Replicas of Diatom Frustules

Three‐dimensional microscale assemblies of fluorine‐doped titania nanoparticles were synthesized from silica‐based diatom microshells (frustules) via a shape‐preserving reactive conversion process (as per the method of Unocic et al .). The nanostructured F‐doped titania frustules were found to induce rapid hydrolysis of the organophosphorous esters, methyl paraoxon, and methyl parathion (insecticides and nerve agent mimics), under mild conditions (pH 4.5–7.9, 22°C) and in the absence of light. Fluorine doping of the titania frustules, which altered the surface Lewis acidity, was found to have a strong impact on the rate of hydrolysis.