Nanometric TiO₂-ZnO compound mesoporous material was prepared by microwave irradiation self-assembled method, using ZnSO₄ and TiCl₄ as raw material and nanometric carbon black as template. This method utilizes the positional hindrance effect of the long chain of soluble starch in space and the separation of macromolecule network. XRD analysis shows that the precursor is amorphous which transforms to TiO₂ or the mixture of TiO₂ and ZnTiO₃ above 500 ℃. When the Ti∶Zn molar ratio is 1, the product is ZnTiO₃. TEM measurement indicates that the TiO₂-ZnO is spherical particles, and the average diameter of the particles is 15～20 nm. The size of most of the pores is about 8 nm in diameter. EDS measurement indicates that the found Ti∶Zn value of the sample agrees with the original mixing ratio and the uniformity is good. The light absorption and photocatalytic experiment show that the material has the best photocatalytic reactivity when the content of Zn is 50%. After being irradiated under the sunlight for 90 min, the compound can completely degrade the blue dye. The photocatalytic reaction follows first-order kinetics.

Key words: nano-TiO₂-ZnO, microwave synthesis, self-assembled, mesoporous, photocatalysis