Synthesis of nano titania particles embedded in mesoporous SBA-15 : Characterization and photocatalytic activity

Abstract Supported nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) has been prepared by a post-synthesis step via Ti-alkoxide hydrolysis through the use of mesoporous SBA-15 silica. TiO 2 /SBA-15 composites with various TiO 2 loading have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and diffusive reflective UV–vis spectroscopy. The addition of mesoporous SBA-15 prevents the anatase to rutile phase transformation and the growth of crystal grain. TiO 2 did not block the SBA-15 pores, and their surface was fully accessible for nitrogen adsorption. Calcination in air of the composites up to 800 °C did not change the nanocrystal phase and slightly increased the domain size from 5.0 to 7.5 nm, indicating that the anatase TiO 2 grains in the mesostructures have a relatively high thermal stability and proper pore diameter allows controlling the size of obtained titania particles. The TiO 2 /SBA-15 composites prepared by this study showed much higher photodegradation ability for methylene blue (MB) than commercial pure TiO 2 nanoparticles P-25. Experimental results indicate that the photocatalytic activity of titania/silica mixed materials depends on the adsorption ability of composite and the photocatalytic activity of the titania, and there is an optimal ratio of Ti:Si, too high or low Ti:Si ratio will lower the photodegradation ability of the composites.