Synthesis and characterization of mesoporous TiO2 prepared via three different procedures in ethanol medium

Three mesoporous TiO2 samples were successfully synthesized by the modified evaporation induced self-assembly methods and hydrothermal process. All obtained mesoporous TiO2 samples only exhibit the anatase crystalline phase in theirs framework. The mesoporous TiO2 samples prepared by modified evaporation induced method show better mesostructure than that one prepared by hydrothermal process since the evaporation of ethanol and hydrolyzed butanol is conducive to the pre-organization between Ti-sources and surfactant micelles and then forming the stable inorganic–organic interface. The mesostructure appearance can distort the TiO6 octahedrons in the structure of anatase framework and cause the light absorbed peaks shifting to longer wavelengths.