Cerium-doped mesoporous TiO2 thin films: Controlled crystallization of anatase with retention of highly ordered mesostructure

Here we report preparation of highly ordered mesoporous Ce-doped titania thin films by spin-coating method using surfactant-based precursor solutions. Various mesoporous titania films with different amounts of Ce content are prepared by changing the compositional ratios of Ti and Ce species in the precursor solutions. We carefully investigate the effect of the doped Ce amounts on “mesostructural ordering”, “thermal stability”, and “anatase crystallinity in the framework”, respectively. By optimization of the doped Ce amounts, we demonstrate the successful anatase crystallization in the framework without any collapses of the ordered mesostructures.

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► Highly ordered mesoporous Ce-doped titania thin films are prepared by spin-coating method using surfactant-based precursor solutions.
► Various mesoporous titania films with different amounts of Ce content are prepared.
► By optimization of the doped Ce amounts, the anatase crystallization in the framework succeeds without any collapses of the ordered mesostructures.