Synthesis and application of layered titanates in the photocatalytic degradation of phenol

This study proposes a direct synthetic route to single titanate sheets through the mild and versatile conditions of the >chimie douce>. The stages of the production include the complexation of the titanium alkoxide precursor by benzoic acid, the formation of titanium oxo-clusters and their controlled transformation into single sheet titanates during the hydrolysis stage. The resulted material appears to be an excellent precursor for self-organized TiO2 nanotubes formation which presents an excellent activity as photocatalyst in the photo-degradation of phenol. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.