Mesoporous molecular sieve derived TiO2 nanofibers doped with SnO2

Mesoporous silica spheres were used as templates to prepare 5 to similar to 10 nm Sn doped TiO2 (TDT) nanofibers using SnCl4 and TiCl4 as precursors. The as-made nanofibers were crystalline anatase but transformed into the rutile phase after annealing above 700 degrees C. The Sn dopant amount in the TDT nanofibers can be controlled by changing the molar ratio of SnCl4 to TiCl4. The dopant Sn atoms were incorporated into the anatase lattice at a level of similar to 15%. The photodegradation of various dyes was catalyzed by the TDT nanofibers and was shown to be more effective than P25 and the undoped TiO2 nanofibers.