Preparation and synergy effect of novel mesoporous carbon-titania nanocomposites

Using mesoporous titania (MTiO₂) as titanium source and glucose as carbon precursor, the novel mesoporous carbon-titania nanocomposite (CMT) was synthesized at 500°C under N₂ atmosphere. The structure properties of nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffracometry, thermogravimetry and low temperature N₂ physical adsorption experiment. The adsorptive and UV photocatalytic properties of CMT were evaluated by decolorization of methyl orange. The results show that, with increasing the carbon content, the adsorptive performance of the nanocomposite increases while the UV photocatalytic performance decreases. When the carbon content is 2%, the nanocomposite (003CMT) presents high crystalline anatase phase and the carbon obtained by the pyrolysis of glucose is well dispersed on the wall of MTiO₂ with specific surface area of 69.8 m²/g, pore volume of 0.22 cm³/g and pore size of 9.69 nm. The photocatalytic performance of 003CMT is higher than that of MTiO₂, indicating that 003CMT can exert the synergy effect of the absorption of carbon and photocatalytic degradation of MTiO₂.