Structure and properties of TiO2SiO2 prepared by sol-gel method in the presence of tartaric acid

Structure and textural properties of TiO2-SiO2 (TiSi = 0.2) composites prepared by sol-gel process in the presence of tartaric acid have been investigated. The specific surface areas of the TiO2-SiO2 gels calcined at 400 °C varied from ca. 250 m2/g to ca. 750 m2/g depending on the amount of tartaric acid used. After calcination at 800 °C, TiO2 in the composite started to crystallize to anatase phase. However, the intensity of the X-ray diffraction peak of anatase crystallite was different between the composites. Infrared and Raman spectra suggest that the Ti-O-Si bond is present in the TiO2-SiO2 in a wide calcination temperature range. Total acid amount in the calcined TiO2-SiO2 samples was proportional to the BET surface area.