Fabrication of TiO2-WO3 hollow spheres via a templating technique for photocatalytic applications

TiO 2 -WO 3 hollow spheres were successfully fabricated by a two-step synthesis method, which combines the polystyrene template-assisted method and chemical deposition method. Scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, and X-ray diffractometer were used to characterise the obtained products. The results indicate that the as-fabricated nanocomposites are double-shelled TiO 2 -WO 3 hollow spherical structures. The photocatalytic properties of the obtained products were determined by the degradation of rhodamine B aqueous solution under simulated solar irradiation. The results reveal that the TiO 2 -WO 3 hollow spheres and pure TiO 2 hollow spheres all have superior photocatalytic degradation ability. Compared with P25 nanoparticles and TiO 2 hollow spheres, TiO 2 -WO 3 hollow spheres exhibit the best photocatalytic performance.