Sol–gel synthesis of nanosized titanium oxide in a porous coordination polymer

• Amorphous TiO2 was dispersed in the channels of a porous coordination polymer.
• Nanocomposite was prepared by sol–gel condensation of titanium tetraisopropoxide.
• Uptake of H2O was increased by incorporation of TiO2 in PCP.
• Modification of PCP with TiO2 allowed change of adsorption behavior by UV light.

Nanosized titanium oxide (TiO2) was synthesized in the channels of a porous coordination polymer (PCP) [La3+(1,3,5-benzenetrisbenzoate)]n by the sol–gel reaction of titanium tetraisopropoxide. XRD, IR, UV–vis, and gas sorption measurements demonstrated that nanosized TiO2 was formed in channels of the PCP. In this system, the resultant PCP⊃TiO2 composite showed enhancement of the adsorption of water. Furthermore, the sorption behavior of the composite could be changed by UV irradiation.

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