Template free sol-gel synthesis of mesoporous TiO2 particles as an efficient photocatalyst for gaseous toluene removal

Mesoporous anatase TiO2 particles, named as 200-TiO2 (pore size: 4–8 nm, particle size: 200–400 nm) with high surface area (196.2 m2/g) was prepared via a template-free sol-gel method and subsequent drying at 200 °C. Three different TiO2 particles (450-, 550-, and 650-TiO2) were prepared by annealing the 200-TiO2 at 450, 550, and 650 °C, respectively. The 200-TiO2 exhibited the highest and most stable photocatalytic activity towards toluene degradation under the UV light irradiations among the four samples which mainly attributed to its mesoporosity and high surface area. The ex-situ FT-IR and operando DRIFT studies revealed that the benzoic acid formed on the surface of 200-TiO2 samples during the toluene oxidation can be decomposed into CO2 under UV light irradiations, so that the 200-TiO2 can be resistant to the accumulation of recalcitrant reaction intermediates. [Display omitted] •SynThesis of mesoporous crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles, template free sol-gel method.•High surface area and narrow pore size distributions of the resultant TiO2 particles.•High and stable photocatalytic activity towards toluene degradation.•High surface area as the main origin of the high and stable activity.•Resistant to accumulation of recalcitrant intermediate species, benzoic acid.