Abstract: Highly crystalline anatase TiO2 microspheres were prepared by a reverse microemulsion-hydrothermal method using tetrabutyl titanate as the titanium source and Trition X-100 as the surfactant. The phase and crystal structure, surface morphology of the prepared TiO2 microspheres were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy(SEM), transmission electron microscopy(TEM), Photolumincscence (PL) spectra, respctively. The results show, increased the molar ratio TBT/H2O within a certain range, the TiO2 microspheres transformed from the irregularly shape to the regularly structure, Particle size also became uniform. the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 microspheres was evaluated in the degradation of methyl blue, it was found that particle size and morphology changes have a greater impact on the photocatalytic activity, when TBT/H2O molar ratio is 1:25, the size of microsphere is uniform, the photocatalytic activity is the highest, better than commercial P25.

Key words: reverse microemulsion-hydrothermal method, microsphere, TiO2, photocatalytic activity