TiO2–MCM-41 for the photocatalytic abatement of NOx in gas phase

Nanotitania supported on mesoporous silica systems were synthesized by a reliable procedure based on an incipient wetness impregnation post-synthetic approach. Characterization by X-ray diffraction, N2 physisorption, TEM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ICP has been carried out in order to investigate the chemical–physical properties of the catalysts with particular attention to the chemical nature of the titanium species. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated for the degradation of NOx in the gas phase. The influence of both the textural properties and the nature of titanium species on the photocatalytic activity is discussed.