Versatility of Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly (EISA) Method for Preparation of Mesoporous TiO(2) for Energy and Environmental Applications

Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly (EISA) method for the preparation of mesoporous titanium dioxide materials is reviewed. The versatility of EISA method for the rapid and facile synthesis of TiO(2) thin films and powders is highlighted. Non-ionic surfactants such as Pluronic P123, F127 and cationic surfactants such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide have been extensively employed for the preparation of mesoporous TiO(2). In particular, EISA method allows for fabrication of highly uniform, robust, crack-free films with controllable thickness. Eleven characterization techniques for elucidating the structure of the EISA prepared mesoporous TiO(2) are discussed in this paper. These many characterization methods provide a holistic picture of the structure of mesoporous TiO(2). Mesoporous titanium dioxide materials have been employed in several applications that include Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs), photocatalytic degradation of organics and splitting of water, and batteries.