title: A two-step sol-gel method for synthesis of nanoporous TiO2.
abstract: This article reports a study of the effects of synthesis parameters on the preparation and formation of mesoporous titania nanopowders by employing a two-step sol-gel method. These materials displayed crystalline domains characteristic of anatase. The first step of the process involved the hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide in a basic aqueous solution mediated by neutral surfactant. The solid product obtained from step 1 was then treated in an acidified ethanol solution containing the same titanium precursor to thicken the pore walls. Low pH and higher loading of the Ti precursor in step 2 produced better mesoporosity and crystallinity of titanium dioxide polymorphs. The resultant powder exhibited a high surface area (73.8 m2/g) and large pore volume (0.17 cm3/g) with uniform mesopores. These materials are envisaged to be used as precursors for mesoporous titania films as a wide band gap semiconductor in dye-sensitized nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells.
authors.affiliation: NanoMaterials Centre, School of Engineering, University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kartini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meredith
authors.forename: X S
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.forename: G Q
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D008420:Manufactured Materials / Q000032:analysis; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D044367:Phase Transition; D016062:Porosity; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium