Preparation of TiO2 nano-particle photocatalysts by a multi-gelation method: the effect of pH change

Abstract

TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by a multi-gelation method and the effect of the changes in the pH during the pH swing times, i.e., by a controlled pH swing, on the morphology of the TiO2 particles was investigated. The photocatalytic properties of the TiO2 catalysts prepared by controlled pH swing were compared with TiO2 particles prepared without adjusting the pH during the swing times. The photocatalytic degradation reaction of these TiO2 catalysts was investigated by comparing their effectiveness in 2-propanol oxidation. The experimental results showed that the TiO2 photocatalysts prepared without adjusting the pH performed better in controlling the important parameters of the catalysts such as particle size, surface area, anatase/rutile phase ratio and pore size, as well as pore volume than the TiO2 photocatalysts prepared by a controlled pH swing method.