One-pot in situ synthesized TiO₂/layered double hydroxides (LDHs) composites toward environmental remediation

In this paper, a novel approach to synthesize nanostructural composite materials of TiO₂/ZnAl LDH is reported for the first time. By simply mixing precursor solutions, TiO₂/ZnAl LDH composite materials can be readily synthesized. The deposition of TiO₂ nanoparticles on the basal face of ZnAl LDH had maintained the original layered structure of ZnAl LDH. TiO₂/LDH composites exhibited a typical IV isotherm type indicating a mesopore structure. The specific surface area of TiO ₂/LDH composites was four times that of pristine LDH. Furthermore, the adsorption test using the typical dye (methylene blue: MB) indicated that the adsorption ability of LDH had been significantly enhanced after the incorporation of TiO₂ by this strategy. Therefore, the developed TiO₂/LDH composite materials with unique adsorption characteristics have great potential for diverse applications.