Nano-TiO2 Decorated Radial-Like Mesoporous Silica: Preparation, Characterization, and Adsorption-Photodegradation Behavior

Supported nanocrystalline TiO2 with a diameter of 15-30 nm was prepared from previously synthesized radial mesoporous silica (RMS) by a post-synthesis method. In addition, their adsorption-photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of methylene blue (MB) was determined. RMS was tailor-made with the main template of CTAB and the SiO2 precursor of TEOS through a facile self-assembly process. The structural, morphological and textural properties of the well-designed TiO2/RMS samples were characterized. The RMS structure was retained after loading TiO2, but its surface area and pore diameter decreased as a result of partial pore blocking. The removal activity of MB for TiO2/RMS was significantly higher than that of commercial TiO2 nanoparticles. The optimal TiO2 loading (20 wt%) on the support could achieve the complete removal of MB within 70 min. The prepared TiO2/RMS particles can be easily separated and display good durability after six reaction cycles.