Synthesis of biomorphic paper-derived anatase

• Paper was successfully employed as a template to synthesize anatase.
• Smaller particle size was reached after infiltration/hydrolysis at −25 °C.
• Anatase content was higher after infiltration/hydrolysis at 0 °C.
• ART was delayed and anatase was the main phase up to 800 °C.

Biomorphic anatase-based plates were obtained using paper as template for fixing TiO2. Ceramics with a microstructure similar to paper were produced by infiltration in TiCl4 and hydrolysis in NH4OH at temperatures between −25 and 25 °C, followed by air drying and calcination up to 1000 °C. After thermal treatment, the samples were characterized by XRD, TG/DTA, BET, SEM and EDX. Plates manufactured by infiltration in TiCl4 and hydrolysis in NH4OH at 0 °C presented anatase as major phase, whose amount decreases with increasing calcination temperature. The results showed that by decreasing the infiltration and hydrolysis temperature, the surface area decreased, crystallite size increased and the anatase-to-rutile transformation was inhibited.