Lotus-root-like titanium dioxide photocatalyst with a hierarchical micro-/ meso-/macroporous structure

Titanium dioxide agglomerate with a hierarchical micro-/meso-/macroporous structure was synthesized by a very simple method using only titanium alkoxide and water as raw materials. The microscopic morphology of the agglomerate looked like a lotus-root including cylindrical macropores with sizes of 1-10 mu m in diameter penetrating into the agglomerate. The agglomerate was composed of TiO2 nanoparticles that form micropores smaller than 1 nm and mesopores smaller than 10 nm. The agglomerate was heat-treated at 300-700oC for 1 h to modify its crystalline phase, crystallite size, and pore size distribution. Anatase-type agglomerates with a micro-/meso-/ macroporous structure having specific surface areas of 35-405 m2/g showed high humidity buffering performance and high photocatalytic activity. Both properties are equal to or higher than each of the commercial products. Furthermore, they showed high hydrophilicity with a water contact angle below 20 degrees even before UV light irradiation.

Automated summary

A titanium dioxide agglomerate with a hierarchical micro-/meso-/macroporous structure was synthesized using a simple method. The agglomerate showed high humidity buffering performance and high photocatalytic activity, surpassing commercial products, and exhibited high hydrophilicity.