Synthesis of Spongelike Mesoporous Anatase and its Photocatalytic Properties

Mesoporous TiO2 has been prepared using a nonionic block copolymer (Pluronic P-123) as structure-directing agent with sol-gel method. Characterization of the product was carried out by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), Nitrogen sorption isotherms, and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy. These analyses showed that under controlled synthesis conditions, a wormlike mesostructured TiO2 with high surface area (110 m2g-1) and appropriated band gap (~3 eV) is obtained. Moreover, the pore walls of the nanostructured TiO2 solid are formed by incipient crystallites of anatase, which is a significant achievement regarding its possible photocatalytic applications. The activity of the prepared photocatalyst was evaluated by degradation of Congo Red azo dye. It has excellent photocatalytic efficiencies and more than 76% dye was decolorized in 90 minute.