Processing of porous TiO2-ceramics from biological preforms

The manufacturing of porous TiO2-ceramics with cellular morphology from biological preforms via sol–gel processing was investigated. Biological materials such as cellulose fiber felts, naturally grown wood as well as corrugated cardboard structures were vacuum infiltrated with a low viscous titania sol, which was prepared from titanium isopropoxide and modified with acetic acid. Pyrolysis in inert atmosphere at 800 °C and subsequent annealing in air resulted in the formation of highly porous, biomorphic TiO2-ceramics with designed micromorphology. The microstructure and phase formation during processing as well as of the final material were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), density, and porosimetry measurements.