Synthesis and electronic structure of low-density monoliths of nanoporous nanocrystalline anatase TiO 2

Abstract

Monolithic nanocrystalline anatase titania aerogels are synthesized by the epoxide sol–gel method followed by thermal annealing at 550 ° C. These aerogels are formed by ∼ 10–20 nm size anatase nanoparticles which are randomly oriented and interconnected into an open-cell solid network. Aerogel monoliths have an apparent density of ∼ 10% and a surface area of ∼ 100 m 2 g −1. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and soft X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy reveal good crystallinity of the anatase nanoparticles forming the aerogel skeleton.