Selective synthesis of borated meso-macroporous and mesoporous spherical TiO2 with high photocatalytic activity

A facile and template-free approach was used to synthesize borated meso-macroporous TiO2 via adding TBT to boric solution following calcination. Borated mesoporous TiO2 solid sphere was obtained via adding the mixture of TBT and n-butanol under identical condition. Both borated meso-macroporous and mesoporous spherical TiO2 are of anatase, as proved by the XRD measurements. FT-IR and XPS results showed that boron might be incorporated in the TiO2 with the formation of B–O–Ti bonds. SEM results indicate macroporous and spherical structure with a diameter of ca. 3 μm. TEM and N2 adsorption verified the existence of mesopore. The average pore sizes and BET surface areas are 3.1 nm, 5.7 nm and 148 m2/g, 64 m2/g for borated meso-macroporous and mesoporous spherical TiO2, respectively. Both materials showed good photocatalytic activity for degrading rhodamine B (RhB) under exposure to UV light. Borated mesoporous TiO2 sphere showed higher photocatalytic activity than commercial photocatalyst P25.