The study of the relationship between pore structure and photocatalysis of mesoporous TiO2

Mesoporous titania was synthesized by a sol-gel method using the surfactants Span85 and X114 as the template. The pore structure was determined by the N-2 adsorption/desorption method below 73 K and calculated using the BJH model. TEM characterizations show that the pores are formed through particle accumulation. Two kinds of channels, straight channels made of cylindrical capillaries and curved channels made of slit-shaped pores, exist in the bulk materials. The influence of the pore structure of mesoporous TiO2 on its photocatalytic performance was studied. The sample with higher porosity, better textural properties and straight channels are good for photocatalytic performance.