Facile synthesis of porous nanospheres TiO₂ as catalyst carrier for plasmon-enhanced photocatalysis

A new molecule 3-[2-(7-oxa-bicyclo[4.1.0]hept-3-yl)-ethylsulfanyl]-propane-1,2-diol (CESPO) was synthesized by click reactions. The molecule has hydroxyl and thioether groups which could thus chelate with active cations. Through a sol-gel process, we thus fabricated porous nano-TiO₂ in the presence of CESPO. The prepared TiO₂ having high specific surface area and was composed of nanocrystals which are favorable for effective charge transport as photocatalyst carrier. On the other hand, Ag nanoparticles were loaded on TiO₂ composites that could be utilized as photocatalyst for degradation of RhB. The experimental results exhibit plasmon enhanced photocatalytic activity depending on the loading amount of the AgNPs. This work provides a facile method to prepare porous oxides that could be adapted for catalyst carriers. (paper)