title: Synthesis, characterization and photocatalytic performance of self-assembled mesoporous TiO₂ nanoparticles.
abstract: A facile synthesis route is reported for preparation of mesoporous TiO(2) nanoparticles (MT-x) through evaporation induced self-assembly by using Pluronic F127, titanium isopropoxide, and various amounts of ethanol as templating agents, titanium sources and solvents, respectively. A variety of different spectroscopic and analytical techniques, such as small- and large-angle powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), N(2) adsorption-desorption isotherms, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopies were used to characterize the physicochemical properties of various MT-x catalysts. Among the catalysts, MT-20 was found to have better mesostructures formed by the arrangement of anatase TiO(2) nanoparticles of ca. 17.3 nm with broad interparticle pore size distribution. Hydrogen generation from water splitting on MT-20 using visible light was enhanced by at least 8.7 times if compared with the conventional TiO(2) photocatalyst. The superior photocatalytic performances observed for the synthesized MT-20 may be attributed to the presence of unique nanostructures in the TiO(2) photocatalysts.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yuan-Chung
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shou-Heng
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Han-Ren
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Syu
authors.forename: Tsung-Han
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption / Q000528:radiation effects; D002384:Catalysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis; D008027:Light; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D055668:Photochemical Processes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016062:Porosity / Q000528:radiation effects; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: C009495:titanium dioxide; D006859:Hydrogen; D014025:Titanium; D009584:Nitrogen