Synthesis and characterization of visible-light absorbing ordered mesoporous titanosilicate incorporated with vanadium oxide

Ordered mesoporous titanosilicates (OMTs) showing UV–visible-light absorption were synthesized using SBA-15 ordered mesoporous silica as a host framework, where the incorporated vanadium oxide worked as a visible-light receptor. The structures and the chemical composition of the OMTs were investigated with powder X-ray diffraction, nitrogen physisorption isotherm, transmission electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Vanadium oxide nanoparticles are incorporated into the interconnecting mesopores of SBA-15 structure and the most of titanium dioxide is uniformly coated on SBA-15 as well as vanadium oxide surfaces. The presence of vanadium oxide nanoparticles in OMTs induced visible-light absorption of titanium oxide at the wavelength above 400 nm.