The synthesis of microporous and mesoporous titania with high specific surface area using sol–gel method and activated carbon templates

In this study, porous titania nanoparticles were synthesized by sol–gel template method, using titanium (IV) tetraisopropoxide as a starting precursor and isopropanol as a solvent. Different commercial activated carbons were used as templates at 10 wt% in titania sol. The templates were completely removed during the calcination in air at 500 °C for 3 h, forming porous titania. Nanocrystalline anatase titania with specific surface area as high as 700 m2/g was successfully obtained in this study. This specific surface area is one of the highest values reported in the literature under similar sol–gel conditions.

► Nanocrystalline anatase with specific surface area as high as 700 m2/g was successfully obtained.
► We succeeded one of the highest specific surface area titania reported in the literature under simple sol–gel synthesis.
► Activated carbon template retarded the anatase-to-rutile transformation.
► Activated carbon template retarded the crystallite growth of titania.