Synthesis of Three-Dimensionally Interconnected Hierarchical Meso/Mesoporous Tb<sup>3+</sup> Doped Titania with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

The precursor was prepared by cohydrolysis reactions of Ti(OC2H5)4and Tb(OC2H5)6around micelles of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide processed by ultrasonic before the cohydrolysis reactions. After calcined the precursor, Terbium doped anatase with a three-dimensionally interconnected hierarchical meso/mesoporous structure had been successfully prepared using an ultrasonic-assisted routine of sol-gel. The three-dimensionally interconnected hierarchical meso/mesoporous structure of the prepared material was proved by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and N2adsorption-desorption analysis. The material prepared displays a pore width distribution curve of single peak at 17.8 nm and displays a range from 6 nm to 42 nm, and possesses a BET area of 105 m2/g and a porosity of 0.65 cm3/g. The results of XPS analysis show that Ti exists in the Ti4+form and Ti-O-Tb/H and Ti-O-Ti bonds exist in the surface of the mesoporous material prepared. The terbium-doped sensitive material prepared possessing a three-dimensionally interconnected hierarchical meso/mesoporous structure is conducive mass-transferring and light-harvesting, and shows that a photocatalytic activity for phenol is about 4.9 times than that of commercial P25 titania under a very weak UV-Vis irradiation condition.