Preparation and characterization of hollow TiO2 microspheres by the interfacial reaction method

Abstract

Titania hollow microspheres (THMs) were prepared by an interfacial reaction method using titanium bislactate as the titanium source. An aqueous solution of titanium bislactate was dispersed in hexane to form a W/O emulsion, which was then poured into an aqueous solution of polyethyleneimine (PEI). Since PEI catalyzes the hydrolysis of titanium bislactate, titania precipitates at the W/O interface, and THMs of 50–80µm diameter are thus formed. The THMs calcined at 973K exhibit good photocatalytic activity, as monitored by the decomposition of methylene blue.