Synthesis of mesoporous TiO2 films in ionic liquid dissolving cellulose

Mesoporous TiO2 films were successfully prepared via calcining ionic liquid solution containing titanium tetrabutyloxide and cellulose. The as-prepared TiO2 films were characterized by means of different techniques including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen sorption analysis. It was indicated that the resulting TiO2 films were composed of anatase nanocrystals with size of about 14 nm, and the pore size of the films could be adjusted by the concentration of cellulose in IL. The possible formation mechanism of TiO2 films was also discussed. The prepared anatase films showed a high catalytic activity in photocatalytic reduction of Ag(I) to Ag and Au(III) to Au(0) under UV irradiation.