Intercalating behavior of Ti(IV) polycations in protonated layered KNb3O8and photocatalytic performance of the TiO2-pillared layered HNb3O8

TiO2-pillared layered niobic acid was prepared through a stepwise ion-exchange route, in which n-decylamine-pre-swelled layered niobic acid was subjected to react with the pillaring solution containing Ti(IV) polycations obtained by using tetrabutyl titanate as titanium source; then, the as-synthesized Ti(IV) polycation-intercalated layered intermediate was calcined at 723 K in air atmosphere. Powder XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and DR-UV–Vis techniques were employed to characterize the structure and photo-absorption property of the TiO2-pillared layered niobic acid products and their precursors. The catalytic performance of the TiO2-pillared layered products for photodegradation reaction of rhodamine B under ultraviolet light irradiation was also evaluated. The laws of Ti(IV) pillaring solution concentration affecting on the intercalating behavior of Ti(IV) polycations in layered niobic acid, and on the structure and photocatalytic performance of the final TiO2-pillared layered products were revealed. Compared with pure TiO2or un-pillared layered niobic acid, the binary TiO2-pillared layered niobic acid product exhibited an excellent catalytic activity for the photodegradation reaction of rhodamine B.