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Effect of calcination atmosphere on the structure and photocatalytic properties of titania mesoporous powder

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Abstract

In the work presented here, mesoporous titania (MTO) powders are synthesised by the sol–gel method using amphiphilic triblock copolymer as a template in two different calcination atmospheres, N2 and air. Various techniques such as sequential thermal analysis (STA), small-angle X-ray diffraction (SAXRD), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet (UV)–visible spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and N2-adsorption/desorption analysis were utilised to study the prepared samples. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activities of the prepared samples were evaluated from the photo-degradation analysis of methylene blue (MB). For the sample calcined at N2, the formation of an ordered mesostructure with a high specific surface area (172 m2 g−1), mesoporosity (48%) and enhanced photocatalytic activity were obtained compared to that of the sample calcined in air. The observed increased MB degradation for the latter is mainly attributed to the formation of higher specific surface area and mesoporosity. The availability of highly ordered open-pore channels could provide increased contacts between reactants in the solution and the active sites on the surface of titania mesoporous particles. Considering the photoactivities of the samples, it is revealed that the photocatalytic activity is enhanced, together with an increase in the surface defects in N2 atmosphere.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the support of Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council (INIC) and the Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI). Further, we would also like to appreciate the kind support of National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1, Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan, during the sabbatical leave of one of the authors (L.S.) during her PhD programme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Development and Optimization of Energy Technologies Research Division, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry (RIPI), Tehran, Iran

    L. Samiee

  2. Nanomaterial Research Group, Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Farjam, Narmak, Tehran, Iran

    L. Samiee & A. Beitollahi

  3. Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Corner College and Cooper Roads (Bld 75), Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia

    A. Vinu

Authors
  1. L. Samiee
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  2. A. Beitollahi
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  3. A. Vinu
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Correspondence to L. Samiee.

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Samiee, L., Beitollahi, A. & Vinu, A. Effect of calcination atmosphere on the structure and photocatalytic properties of titania mesoporous powder. Res Chem Intermed 38, 1467–1482 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-011-0477-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-011-0477-6

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