Multi-modal mesoporous TiO2-ZrO2 composites with high photocatalytic activity and hydrophilicity

Utilizing the amphiphilic triblock copolymer Pluronic P123 as the surfactant, and Ti((OBu)-Bu-n)(4) and ZrOCl2 center dot 8H(2)O as the inorganic sources, a series of multi-modal mesoporous TiO2-ZrO2 composites have been successfully synthesized through a one-step method. The resultant materials were characterized in detail by x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, high resolution scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N-2 adsorption and water contact angle measurements. The effect of calcination temperatures on the physical parameters, hydrophilicity and photocatalytic activity of the obtained mesoporous TiO2-ZrO2 composites was also investigated in this paper.