Ordered Mesoporous Films of TiO2 as Highly Efficient Photocatalysts for Clean Environment

摘要

We have developed a low-cost procedure for the deposition of mesoporous films of TiO2, which is based on spraying a sol containing titanium alkoxide, concentrated HCl, a suitable block-copolymer serving as a structure directing agent and a solvent, the viscosity of the spraying sol and the conditions of spraying being precisely adjusted in order to achieve uniform coverage of the surface. The thickness of the films can be readily controlled by varying the number of deposited layers, their porosity being homogeneous and their surface area and pore volume increasing practically linearly with the increasing number of deposited layers. The mesoporous films of TiO2 are highly promising photocatalysts for the oxidation of NO at low concentrations and the removal of liquid layers deposited on their surface.