Convenient preparation of titanium-doped mesoporous carbon by a low temperature solvothermal method

• A convenient low temperature solvothermal method was developed to prepare titanium-doped ordered mesoporous carbons (Ti-OMCs) for the first time.
• Effect of solvent polarity on the morphologies of Ti-OMCs was investigated.
• Highly ordered Ti-OMCs were prepared by employing 1-propanol as solvent.

A convenient low temperature solvothermal method was proposed to prepare titanium-doped ordered mesoporous carbons (Ti-OMCs) by using a series of alcohol as solvent for the first time. The effect of solvent polarity on the microstructure of Ti-OMCs was especially investigated. The results show that the periodic pore structure of Ti-OMCs becomes deteriorated and shape of the pores changes from cylinder type to worm-like along with the decrease of solvent polarity. In addition, decreasing solvent polarity results in small pore sizes and narrow pore size distribution. The material prepared in 1-propanol solution possesses well-ordered mesostructure, high specific surface area (711 m2/g) and large pore size (7.1 nm).