Nanosized TiO2 particles decorated on SiO2 spheres (TiO2/SiO2): synthesis and photocatalytic activities

Nanosized TiO2 and nano-anatase TiO2 decorated on SiO2 spherical core shells were synthesized by using a sol-gel method. The synthesized pure TiO2 nano particle and TiO2 grafted on SiO2 sphere with various ratios have been characterized for their structure and morphologies by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Their surface areas were measured using the BET method. The photocatalytic activity of all nanocomposites was investigated using methylene blue as a model pollutant. The synthesized TiO2/SiO2 particles appeared to be more efficient in the degradation of methylene blue pollutant, as compared to pure TiO2 particles.