Surfactant mediated synthesis of spheric

In this study, we explore the surfactant-mediated synthesis of spherical binary oxides that exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light. The objective is to prepare spherical silica and zirconia mixed titania and pure titania samples using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) through controlled hydrolysis of the respective metal alkoxides. We conducted a detailed investigation to assess the effect of surfactant concentration and calcination temperature on the resulting morphology, surface area, and photocatalytic performance utilizing techniques such as PXRD, SEM, FTIR, and solid-state UV–vis spectroscopy. Our results indicate that optimal synthesis is achieved with 2 mol% CTAB, where uniform spherical oxide particles are formed, while deviations in surfactant concentration hinder the desired morphology. Furthermore, this method not only facilitates the formation of spherical particles but also enhances their surface area and visible light absorption capabilities. Notably, calcination at 500 °C was found to optimize photocatalytic activity. Interestingly, the inclusion of zirconia and silica contributed to the stabilization of the anatase phase, maintaining a high surface area even at elevated calcination temperatures of 900 °C. Overall, the findings validate the efficacy of our synthesis approach in producing spherical binary oxide materials with superior photocatalytic activity under visible light conditions.