Fabrication and characterization of macroporous TiO2 films by photo polymerization-induced phase separation method

Macroporous TiO2 films have been fabricated by a photo polymerization-induced phase separation method without any surfactant and colloidal templates. The gel TiO2 films deposited from the precursor solution containing photo monomer dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate were irradiated by the ultraviolet light. After that, the films were heat-treated at 600 °C for 10 min. The scanning electron microscopy results showed that TiO2 films with macroporous structures could be obtained. The macroporous structure could be controlled by changing the reaction parameters. The as-prepared TiO2 films exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of methylene blue dye than that of the dense TiO2 film.