title: Synthesis of uniformly dispersed anatase nanoparticles inside mesoporous silica thin films via controlled breakup and crystallization of amorphous TiO2 deposited using atomic layer deposition.
abstract: Amorphous titanium dioxide was introduced into the pores of mesoporous silica thin films with 75% porosity and 12 nm average pore diameter via Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) using alternating pulses of tetrakis(dimethylamino)titanium and water. Calcination provoked fragmentation of the deposited amorphous TiO2 phase and its crystallization into anatase nanoparticles inside the nanoporous film. The narrow particle size distribution of 4 ± 2 nm and the uniform dispersion of the particles over the mesoporous silica support were uniquely revealed using electron tomography. These anatase nanoparticle bearing films showed photocatalytic activity in methylene blue degradation. This new synthesis procedure of the anatase nanophase in mesoporous silica films using ALD is a convenient fabrication method of photocatalytic coatings amenable to application on very small as well as very large surfaces.
authors: Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, Leuven B-3001, Belgium.
authors: Sreeprasanth Pulinthanathu
authors: SP
authors: Sree
authors: Jolien
authors: J
authors: Dendooven
authors: Kasper
authors: K
authors: Masschaele
authors: Heidari M
authors: HM
authors: Hamed
authors: Shaoren
authors: S
authors: Deng
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Bals
authors: Christophe
authors: C
authors: Detavernier
authors: Johan A
authors: JA
authors: Martens