Influence of the synthesis parameters of TiO2–SBA-15 materials on the adsorption and photodegradation of rhodamine-6G

Ti–SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieves were prepared following an in situ method. Titania was therefore added during the synthesis of SBA-15. The influence of the silica source, the titania source, the synthesis temperature and the ageing temperature are investigated. These influences are discussed towards structural features, porous characteristics and catalytic performance of the combined titania–silica materials. The catalysts were characterized with Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, electron probe micro analysis (EPMA), nitrogen sorption and X-ray diffraction. The catalytic performance was evaluated using UV–vis spectroscopy in a liquid phase photodegradation reaction.