Enhanced photocatalytic properties of TiO2-loaded porous silica with hierarchical macroporous and mesoporous architectures in water purification. Issue 5 (16th December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kamegawa, Takashi; Ishiguro, Yasushi; Seto, Hiroki; Yamashita, Hiromi
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 3:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 2323
• Page End: 2330
• Publication Date: 2014-12-16
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c4ta06020b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : Porous silica with hierarchical macroporous and mesoporous architectures can serve as an advanced material in the design of composite photocatalysts with TiO2 for water purification. Abstract : Porous silica with hierarchical macroporous and mesoporous architectures ( MacroMeso -SiO2 ) was prepared by a solvent evaporation method using a precursor solution for the synthesis of mesoporous silica ( Meso -SiO2 ) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) colloidal crystals as a hard template and used as an advanced support for TiO2 photocatalysts. The porous structure and state of TiO2 were investigated by various characterisation techniques. Reflecting the structure of aligned PMMA microspheres, MacroMeso -SiO2 has a uniform and hierarchical macroporous structure with interconnecting networks even after the loading of TiO2 particles. Based on its advantageous porous structure, TiO2 -loaded MacroMeso -SiO2 exhibited specific characteristics, i.e., the easy transportation of relatively large molecules and unique adsorption properties to condense organic compounds, and enhanced photocatalytic properties in the degradation of organic compounds in water as compared to TiO2 -loaded Meso -SiO2 under UV light irradiation.