One-pot template-free preparation of mesoporous TiO2 hollow spheres and their photocatalytic activity

Mesoporous TiO2 hollow spheres were prepared in a solvothermal process, which did not involve any templates and surfactants. Meanwhile, the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 hollow spheres was studied using methyl orange as a probe. The results indicate that the anatase TiO2 hollow spheres with mesoporous walls and high specific surface area (141 m2 g−1) can be obtained using this simple method. The mean diameter and wall thickness of spheres are about 700 nm and 90 nm, respectively. Moreover, the as-prepared TiO2 hollow spheres display high photocatalytic activity with 98% of degradation ratio of methyl orange after 30 min irradiation.

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► Mesoporous TiO2 hollow spheres were prepared in a one-pot process.
► The process does not involve any templates and surfactants.
► The TiO2 hollow spheres display high photocatalytic activity.