Room temperature synthesis of mesoporous TiO₂ nanostructures with high photocatalytic efficiency

Abstract

Mesoporous TiO₂ nanostructures of spindle shape (diameter ∼6 nm and length of 30 nm) have been obtained at room temperature by a simple microemulsion method. The nanospindles are highly monodisperse with high surface area and high degree of thermostability. These TiO₂ nanostructures have a high surface area (∼200 m²/g) and show nearly twice the photocatalytic efficiency than of commercially available TiO2 and comparable to the best titania-based photocatalyst (TiO₂ doped with expensive metals like Pt and obtained at higher temperature). There is no decrease in the efficiency of the photocatalyst even after three cycles.