Synthesis of hierarchical mesoporous titania with interwoven networks by eggshell membrane directed sol-gel technique

Hierarchical mesoporous titania with interwoven networks was successfully prepared through a surface sol-gel process followed by a calcination treatment and using eggshell membrane (ESM) as the biotemplate. The biotemplating synthesis was systematically investigated by controlling calcination temperature (550-800 degrees C), heating rate (1-35 degrees C/min), impregnant pH value (1-3), and so on. Different from traditional immersion techniques, the nucleation, the growth, and the assembly of mesoporous TiO2 in our work depended more on some reactions involving ESM biomacromolecules. As-prepared ESM-morphic TiO2 was composed of intersectant fibers assembled by 6 nm nanocrystallites at 3D with hierarchical pores from 2 nm up to 8 mu m. (C) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.