Fabrication of macroporous titanium dioxide structures using templating techniques

Templating techniques have been used to control the structure and hence properties of titanium dioxide materials, leading to enhanced performance in photocatalytic applications. In the present paper, titanium dioxide based structures synthesised by the author's group using preformed templates are reviewed. Variation in the morphology of the organic templates, including monolithic pellets, films, spherical particles and fibres, is discussed. The incorporation of the inorganic material within the porous structure was achieved by conducting either sol–gel chemistry in the pores of the template or infiltrating preformed nanoparticles through the template pores. In addition, the ability to alter the composition of the final inorganic material by mixing different precursor solutions, mixing solutions of preformed nanoparticles of two different metal oxides before conducting the templating or the controlled application of layers of one oxide after another onto the template is discussed. These techniques allow the fabrication of intricate titanium dioxide based porous structures with tailored properties.