Nanocrystalline TiO2 particles with a mean particle diameter of 5 nm and a positive surface charge were coagulated with delaminated silicate layers to form a heterocoagulated mesoporous nanocomposite. Nitrogen sorption isotherm analysis revealed the TiO2-montmorillonite nanocomposite to have a specific surface area (SBET) and pore volume (Vtot) of 253m2/g and 0.36mL/g, respectively. Water isotherm measurements also showed that the mesoporous nanocomposite has a large water sorption capacity of 0.37 ml/g and large adsorption-desorption hysteresis, which is suitable for self-humidity control materials.
Keywords: Nanoparticle, TiO2, Montmorillonite, Mesoporous materials, Water isotherm.