Synthesis and characterization of titania powders from mixture of ionic liquid-water

Titania was prepared in the mixture solvent of ionic liquid (1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazole acetate [EmIm(+) AcO-]) and water by sol-gel low temperature hydro-thermal treatment of tetrabutyl titanate. The sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform-IR spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The results show that the anatase titania, with an average grain size of 10 nm and specific surface area of 238 m(2)center dot g(-1), is better in purity, crystallinity and thermal stability compared with that prepared in pure water. Moreover, the reaction time in mixture solvent is reduced to half of that in pure water for about the same crystalline size. The photocatalytic activity of the samples was evaluated by photocatalytic decolorization of methyl orange in water. The results also indicate that the titania prepared in this work displays a better activity than the commercial degussa P25.