Multi-modal mesoporous TiO2–ZrO2composites with high photocatalytic activity and hydrophilicity

Utilizing the amphiphilic triblock copolymer Pluronic P123 as the surfactant, and Ti(O(n)Bu)(4) and ZrOCl(2)·8H(2)O as the inorganic sources, a series of multi-modal mesoporous TiO(2)-ZrO(2) composites have been successfully synthesized through a one-step method. The resultant materials were characterized in detail by x-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, high resolution scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N(2) adsorption and water contact angle measurements. The effect of calcination temperatures on the physical parameters, hydrophilicity and photocatalytic activity of the obtained mesoporous TiO(2)-ZrO(2) composites was also investigated in this paper.