Use of mesoporous silica modified with titanium oxide as a template for preparation of mesoporous carbon incorporating TiO₂ nanocrystals

Mesoporous silica modified with titanium oxide is shown to be useful as a template for the preparation of mesoporous carbon incorporating TiO₂ nanocrystals. The nanocomposite was prepared by deposition of carbon within the mesoporous silica template modified with titanium oxide, and subsequent template removal with NaOH (aq). The high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) image of the prepared nanocomposite clearly showed that small TiO₂ nanocrystals embedded on mesoporous carbon were formed. The Si-O-Ti bonds between mesoporous silica and titanium oxide layers are effective to suppress the migration of the Ti species, resulting in the formation of the TiO₂ nanocrystals.