A facile method to prepare mesoporous anatase TiO2 materials in water at lower temperatures. (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luo, Qingzhi; Chen, Yu; Wang, Desong; An, Jing; Li, Xueyan; Yin, Rong; Shi, Le
• Is Part Of: Materials research bulletin. Volume 67(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 140
• Page End: 145
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Inorganic compounds -- Nanostructures -- Sol–gel chemistry -- X-ray diffraction -- Catalytic properties; Materials -- Periodicals; Crystal growth -- Periodicals; Matériaux -- Périodiques; Cristaux -- Croissance -- Périodiques; Crystal growth; Materials; Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2015.03.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-5408

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Mesoporous anatase TiO2 was prepared in water at lower temperatures than 90 °C. The specific surface areas of as-prepared TiO2 are in the range of 235–345 m 2 g −1 . The as-prepared TiO2 possesses high UV or visible light photocatalytic activity. Abstract: Mesoporous anatase TiO2 has been successfully prepared in water at lower temperatures than 90 °C. Firstly, amorphous TiO2 gels were prepared by conventional sol–gel method at room temperature with tetrabutyl titanate as precursor, and then TiO2 gels were directly put into water at temperatures of 50–90 °C for 0.5–10 h to form mesoporous anatase TiO2 . The as-prepared mesoporous TiO2 was characterized by XRD, TEM, FTIR, Raman, UV–vis DRS, DSC–TGA, and XPS. The results showed that mesoporous anatase TiO2 contained some organic residuals, the mean size of the TiO2 nanocrystals was in the range of 3.5–5.4 nm, and their BET specific surface areas were in the range of 235–345 m 2 g −1 . The photocatalytic activity of as-prepared TiO2 was obviously higher than those of the commercial TiO2 (P25) and TiO2 calcined at 450 °C for 3 h under UV or visible light irradiation.