Cooperative Self-assembly Mesoporous TiO₂ with Crystalline Framework from Lyotropic Liquid Crystalline Template

Abstract

Highly ordered mesoporous TiO₂ with anatase (P123, EO₂₀PO₇₀EO₂₀) and titanium precursor in the crystalline framework has been prepared by fast cooperative self-assembly of lyotropic liquid crystalline template of triblock copolymer mixed water-alcohol solvent. When combining with various preparation techniques such as sol-gel casting and spin-coating, the mesoporous TiO₂ can be synthesized in the forms of powder, monolith, and thin film under control both for scale of size and for morphology. Further, metal ions can be easily doped into mesoporous TiO2 with uniform distribution and various concentrations, showing distinguished photochemical and photophysical properties for applications such as optics, electron, catalysis, and so on.