Abstract
Mesoporous titania nanocrystals have been prepared via a surfactant-assisted templating method (SATM). The effect of key parameters, i.e., surfactant-removing condition, surfactant to alkoxide molar ratio, acetylacetone concentration, pH value, and water to alkoxide molar ratio, on the structural and morphological characteristics and photocatalytic activity of titania nanocrystals were investigated. The synthesized titania nanoparticles exhibited anatase-type mesoporous structure with surface area of up to 140 m2/g. High photocatalytic activity was obtained from the titania nanocrystals calcined at 300°C for 72 h, which was rather higher than that of ST-01, one of the most active photocatalyst commercially available.
