Porous TiO₂ materials through Pickering high-internal phase emulsion templating

Langmuir. 2014 Mar 18;30(10):2676-83. doi: 10.1021/la404930h. Epub 2014 Mar 6.

Abstract

We report a facile method for preparing porous structured TiO2 materials by templating from Pickering high-internal phase emulsions (HIPEs). A Pickering HIPE with an internal phase of up to 80 vol %, stabilized by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based microgels and TiO2 solid nanoparticles, was first formulated and employed as a template to prepare the porous TiO2 materials with an interconnected structure. The resultant materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and mercury intrusion. Our results showed that the parent emulsion droplets promoted the formation of macropores and interconnecting throats with sizes of ~50 and ~10 μm, respectively, while the interfacially adsorbed microgel stabilizers drove the formation of smaller pores (~100 nm) throughout the macroporous walls after drying and sintering. The interconnected structured network with the bimodal pores could be well preserved after calcinations at 800 °C. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of the fabricated TiO2 was evaluated by measuring the photodegradation of Rhodamine B in water. Our results revealed that the fabricated TiO2 materials are good photocatalysts, showing enhanced activity and stability in photodegrading organic molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Emulsions / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Porosity
  • Titanium / chemistry*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Emulsions
  • titanium dioxide
  • Titanium