The synthesis of microporous and mesoporous titania with high specific surface area using sol-gel method and activated carbon templates

In this study, porous titania nanoparticles were synthesized by sal-gel template method, using titanium (IV) tetraisopropoxide as a starting precursor and isopropanol as a solvent. Different commercial activated carbons were used as templates at 10 wt% in titania sol. The templates were completely removed during the calcination in air at 500 degrees C for 3 h, forming porous titania. Nanocrystalline anatase titania with specific surface area as high as 700 m(2)/g was successfully obtained in this study. This specific surface area is one of the highest values reported in the literature under similar sol-gel conditions. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.