Hydrothermal synthesis and photocatalytic activity of mesoporous titania hollow microspheres

Crystalline bi-phase TiO2 hollow microspheres with mesoporous shells are one-pot fabricated by hydrothermal treatment of acidic (NH4)2TiF6 aqueous solution in the presence of glucose at 180 °C for 24 h, and then calcined at different temperatures for 4 h. The as-prepared samples are characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms. The photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared samples is evaluated by photocatalytic decolorization of methyl orange aqueous solution at ambient temperature. The results indicate that the prepared TiO2 samples possess a bimodal pore size distribution in the mesoporous region. At 500 °C, TiO2 hollow microspheres exhibit the highest photocatalytic activity probably due to an optimal mass ratio of rutile to anatase.