Ionic liquid assisted synthesis of nano-porous TiO2 and studies on confined ionic liquid

Nanoporous anatase form of TiO2 powder was synthesized by non-hydrolytic sol–gel method with and without ionic liquid (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulphate) [EMIM] [EtSO4]. The prepared nanoporous TiO2 powders were characterized by Thermogravimetric Analysis, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmet–Teller N2 gas adsorption–desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Confinement of ionic liquid (IL) in porous TiO2 resulted in change in the glass transition temperature (Tg), shift in the C–H vibrations wave number of alkyl chain and ring of the ionic liquid and increase in surface area of the TiO2 particles prepared with IL. TiO2 particles obtained without ionic liquid were amorphous in nature whereas TiO2 particles obtained after the incorporation of ionic liquid were of poly-crystalline (anatase) form.

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► Nano-porous TiO2 has been synthesized by non-hydrolytic sol–gel process using non halogenated IL ([EMIM] [EtSO4]).
► Increase in glass transition temperature (Tg) of IL found upon confinement in TiO2.
► TEM analysis shows poly-crystalline nature of IL confined TiO2.