A comparative study of the incorporation of TiO2 into MCM-41 nanostructure via different approaches and its effect on the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and CO oxidation

Abstract

Two sets of titania incorporated within mesoporous MCM-41 were successfully fabricated through two fundamental approaches to look for better dispersion of titania and robust catalysts for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and carbon monoxide oxidation. The first involves the incorporation of titania via a one-pot synthesis method to produce Ti-MCM-41. The second approach carried out uses the post-impregnation method to deliver TiO2/MCM-41 with various titania contents. The synthesized materials were characterized by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman spectroscopy, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, nitrogen physisorption, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The results demonstrate that, as compared with the post-impregnation approach, the one-pot synthesis of titanium into MCM-41 assists the incorporation and the good dispersion of titanium ions into the mesochannel of MCM-41 frameworks. It also hinders the growth of large TiO2 crystallites, which are beneficial to produce outstanding catalysts for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue and carbon monoxide oxidation. It is conceivable to propose that the strategy of preparation did pronouncedly contribute to the overall activity.