Preparation of a new composite consisted of titanate nanotubes and porphyrin oligomer by a capillary filling

Titanate nanotubes (TNTs) with high aspect ratio were synthesized via a hydrothermal process. By means of a capillary filling method, the porphyrin oligomers dissolved in the tetrahydrofuran solution could be easily incorporated into the pore channels of TNTs. Transmission electron microscopy of the resulting one-dimensional TNTs/porphyrin oligomer composite showed that the pore channels of TNTs were blurred. The results of solid UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra, fluorescence spectra and Fourier transform infrared spectra further confirmed that the porphyrin oligomers have successfully been incorporated into the pore channels of TNTs by the host–guest interaction between TNTs and the porphyrin oligomers. The investigation of thermal stability revealed that the porphyrin oligomers in the composite became more stable due to the shielding of TNTs.