One-pot template-free preparation of mesoporous TiO2 hollow spheres and their photocatalytic activity

Highlights: ► Mesoporous TiO{sub 2} hollow spheres were prepared in a one-pot process. ► The process does not involve any templates and surfactants. ► The TiO{sub 2} hollow spheres display high photocatalytic activity. -- Abstract: Mesoporous TiO{sub 2} hollow spheres were prepared in a solvothermal process, which did not involve any templates and surfactants. Meanwhile, the photocatalytic activity of TiO{sub 2} hollow spheres was studied using methyl orange as a probe. The results indicate that the anatase TiO{sub 2} hollow spheres with mesoporous walls and high specific surface area (141 m{sup 2} g{sup −1}) can be obtained using this simple method. The mean diameter and wall thickness of spheres are about 700 nm and 90 nm, respectively. Moreover, the as-prepared TiO{sub 2} hollow spheres display high photocatalytic activity with 98% of degradation ratio of methyl orange after 30 min irradiation.