Mesoporous titania photocatalyst: effect of relative humidity and aging on the preparation of mesoporous titania and on its photocatalytic activity performance

Mesoporous TiO2 has been synthesized by the sol–gel method, using a nonionic triblock copolymer P123 as surfactant template under acidic conditions. The as-prepared samples were characterized by thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA), nitrogen absorption–desorption (BET), field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the mesoporous TiO2 was evaluated by degradation of methylene blue under high-intensity UV light irradiation; the amount of methylene blue was measured by UV–visible spectroscopy. TG–DTA analysis revealed that the surfactant had been removed partly in as-synthesized samples. BET analysis proved that all the samples retained mesoporosity with a narrow pore-size distribution (4.5–6.3 nm) and high surface area (103–200 m2/g). All calcined mesoporous TiO2 had high photocatalytic activity in the photodegradation of methylene blue.