Synthesis of titanosilicate pillared MFI zeolite as an efficient photocatalyst

Abstract

A titanosilicate pillared MFI zeolite (abbreviated as Si/Ti-PMFI) has been synthesized by sequential infiltration of a mixed tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and tetrabutyl orthotitanate (TBOT) solvent into and hydrolysis of the TEOS/TBOT solvent entrapped between the multilamellar MFI layers. The Ti-species present in the titanosilicate pillars, acid sites supplied by the framework Al–O(H)–Si sites in MFI layers, and mesoporosity collectively endow Si/Ti-PMFI with efficient adsorption assisted photocatalytic functionality, which was exemplified by the degradation of methyl orange (MO) in water. The synthesis of Si/Ti-PMFI zeolites containing Al–O(H)–Si acid sites within MFI layers and Ti-sites between layers diversified the structure, physicochemical properties, and catalytic functionality of hierarchical lamellar zeolites. The Si/Ti-PMFI lamellar zeolites were studied as adsorptive catalysts for photocatalysis, especially when bulky molecules are involved.