Synthesis of hierarchical mesoporous titania with interwoven networks by eggshell membrane directed sol–gel technique

• DOI: 10.1016/j.micromeso.2006.09.041
• Publication Date: 2006-11-08T12:34:18Z
• Authors: Qun Dong; Huilan Su; Di Zhang; Zhaoting Liu; Yijian Lai
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

Abstract Hierarchical mesoporous titania with interwoven networks was successfully prepared through a surface sol–gel process followed by a calcination treatment and using eggshell membrane (ESM) as the biotemplate. The biotemplating synthesis was systematically investigated by controlling calcination temperature (550–800 °C), heating rate (1–35 °C/min), impregnant pH value (1–3), and so on. Different from traditional immersion techniques, the nucleation, the growth, and the assembly of mesoporous TiO 2 in our work depended more on some reactions involving ESM biomacromolecules. As-prepared ESM-morphic TiO 2 was composed of intersectant fibers assembled by 6 nm nanocrystallites at 3D with hierarchical pores from 2 nm up to 8 μm.