Novel‐Type Inorganic Foams from Preceramic Polymers with Embedded Titania Nanoparticles for Photo‐Catalytic Applications

Abstract Photocatalytic active silica‐based foams were prepared by embedding nanotitania (anatase) into a self‐foaming glass particle‐loaded preceramic polymer and then thermally converting it in air into a silica‐based material. The foaming behavior of the mixture was found to be influenced by the volume fraction of the filler materials, resulting in open‐cellular or fused composite materials. Transformation from the anatase modification into the rutile modification is prevented even at 800 °C by the formation of SiOTi bonds. The composite foam structure with embedded nanotitania was tested in methylene blue decomposition under UV irradiation and it was found to have higher photocatalytic activity compared to unsupported nanotitania.