Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of mesoporous anatase prepared from tetrabutylammonium-titania composites

The synthesis of new titania-based materials obtained from the hydrolysis of titanium(IV) isopropoxide (TIP) in the presence of tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAOH) was investigated. Hybrid composites constituted by tetrabutylammonium (TBA) cations embedded into a titania matrix were produced in a first stage. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of these composites exhibited broad low-angle reflections, which indicates the existence of some degree of ordering on the scale of mesopores. Porous titania with BET surface areas up to 110 m2g−1 and diverse distributions of pores in the range of mesopores were obtained after different treatments devoted to the removal of TBA from these composites. The photocatalytic activity of the pure titania final products was tested by the gas phase oxidation of formaldehyde.