A novel adsorbent photocatalyst consisting of titania and mesoporous silica nanoparticles

The nanoscale combination of crystalline titania and mesoporous silica particles was successfully applied as a photocatalytic adsorbent for the rapid removal from air and complete decomposition of organic molecules. The composites consisted of anatase particles ca. 7 nm in diameter and mesoporous silica particles 10–100 nm in diameter, which provided a specific surface area of more than 1000 m2/g. The composites were prepared through the assembly of surfactant micelles and siliceous species in the presence of the titania nanoparticles. Acetaldehyde was quickly removed from air due to the large surface area of the mesoporous silica and then was gradually decomposed into carbon dioxide under UV illumination with mass transfer between the adsorbent and the titania photocatalyst.