Preparation of titania foams having an open cellular structure and their application to photocatalysis

Titania foams were prepared by calcination of polyacrylamide gels containing titanyl sulfate and urea. Decomposition of the inclusions resulted in foaming of the polymer body with the formation of anatase crystals. An open cellular structure consisting of anatase nanoparticles was then obtained after combustion of residual organic components. The photocatalytic activity of this new type of titania morphology was obviously higher than that of powdery titania for the decomposition of organic molecules in water and air. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.