Photocatalytic composite material

A method for producing a photocatalytic composite material, comprising the following steps:

• 1) providing nanocrystalline titanium dioxide particles;
• 2) functionalizing the nanocrystalline titanium dioxide particles of step 1) in solution with an organic molecule conferring hydrophobic properties to the titanium dioxide surface and isolating hydrophobically-functionalized titanium dioxide particles;
• 3) providing an acidic solution containing a template-forming polymer;
• 4) adding to the acidic solution of the template-forming polymer of step 3) the hydrophobically-functionalized nanocrystalline titanium dioxide particles obtained at step 2) and a precursor of the porous matrix;
• 5) forming from the solution of step 4) a composite material intermediate;
• 6) treating the composite material intermediate of step 5) at a temperature between about room temperature and about 100° C. for a period of time sufficient to form a gel;
• 7) drying the gel obtained at step 6);
• 8) annealing the dried gel obtained at step 7) to provide the final photocatalytic composite material.