Syntheses and characterization of highly mesoporous crystalline TiO2 macrocellular foams

Titanium dioxide open-cell macro-cellular foams have been generated with emphasis toward controlling macro-, meso- and microstructures thus reaching hierarchically organized inorganic architectures. At the macroscopic length scale a non-static air-liquid foam strategy allows strong control over the open-cell morphologies. At the meso- and/or nanoscopic length scales various mesogenic templates or latex colloids have been used to promote mesoporosity. Among the strategies in use, a Pluronic copolymer P-123 combined with tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide induce vermicular-like mesoporosity associated with a specific surface area around 400 m(2) g(-1). At the microscopic length scale, upon the use of specific thermal treatment, either monophasic anatase, biphasic anatase-rutile or monophasic rutile allotropic forms are obtained.