Crystallization of well-defined anatase nanoparticles in SBA-15 for the photocatalytic decomposition of acetic acid

Abstract

Anatase nanoparticles with a size of ca. 5 nm were prepared in mesoporous silica (SBA-15 with the pore diameter of 6 nm) by impregnation of the precursor derived from titanium tetraisopropoxide and subsequent heat treatment in air. The mesoporous structure of the anatase–silica hybrid and the size of the anatase particles were kept unchanged during the crystallization of anatase at 200–600 °C. The hybrids were applied as a photocatalyst for the decomposition of acetic acid in water under UV irradiation to find the heat treatment over 400 °C led to higher efficiency of the reaction (45–55 μmol h⁻¹ of carbon-dioxide production) over the samples heated at temperatures lower than 300 °C (3–14 μmol h⁻¹ of carbon-dioxide production).