A salt-assisted approach for the pore-size-tailoring of the ionic-liquid-templated TiO2 photocatalysts exhibiting high activity

► Inorganic salts expand the pore sizes of IL-templated TiO2 powders based on ionic strength, volume exclusion and Coulomb repulsion. ► The ions with large ionic radii and high charges are more capable of expanding the pores. ► Pore-expansion reduces steric hindrance and opens internal surface areas of mesoporous photocatalysts to reactants, thus greatly enhancing the photoactivity. ► The critical pore size for the adsorption of hydrated bisphenol A molecules within the pores is ca. 4.2 nm.