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Photocatalytic and mechanical properties of immobilized nanotubular TiO2 photocatalysts obtained by anodic oxidation: a novel combined analysis

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Abstract

The photocatalytic and mechanical performance of TiO2 nanotubular coatings obtained by anodic oxidation of commercial titanium, using an NH4F and 3.5% v/v water in ethylene glycol solution as electrolyte was investigated. After the anodization, the coatings were thermally treated at 450 °C for 2 h. The effects of the anodizing voltage (40–80 V) and NH4F concentration (0.06, 0.15, 0.27 M) on the formation of the nanotube arrays were evaluated. Nanotube diameters (57 to 114 nm), wall thicknesses (4 to 13 nm), and lengths (5 to 17 µm) increased with the anodizing voltage and the NH4F concentration. The photocatalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, glancing incidence X-ray diffraction, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of the photocatalysts were determined: adhesion using the tape test (ASTM D3359) and erosion resistance through a 3 h accelerated test. The photocatalytic activity of the nanotubes under UV irradiation was evaluated using hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), using a 1.25 EDTA/Cr(VI) molar ratio solution at pH 2. A complete Cr(VI) transformation after 3 h of irradiation was obtained for all samples, with a better performance than that of an immobilized P25 sample. The photocatalyst obtained with 0.27 M NH4F at 40 V presented a good behavior in adherence and erosion resistance, together with a very good photocatalytic activity. This novel analysis, combining photocatalytic and mechanical tests, proved that the new TiO2 nanotubular coatings could be successfully used as immobilized photocatalysts in photoreactors for water treatment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank CONICET and Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnólogica (ANPCyT) from Argentina, PICT-2017-2133 and PICT-2017-2494 projects. The authors thank Dr. Paula Angelomé from the Nanomaterials Chemistry Group of Gerencia Química of Centro Atómico Constituyentes, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Argentina for DRS measurements, and Eng. Cristian Cegelski from the DRX Laboratory of Instituto de Materiales de Misiones (IMAM, CONICET-UNaM, Argentina) for XRD measurements.

Funding

This work has been funded by Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnólogica (ANPCyT) from Argentina through PICT-2017-2133 and PICT-2017-2494 projects.

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  1. Instituto de Materiales de Misiones, IMAM (CONICET-UNaM), Félix de Azara 1552, 3300, Posadas, Misiones, Argentina

    Anabela N. Dwojak, María L. Vera, Hernán D. Traid, Mario R. Rosenberger & Carlos E. Schvezov

  2. IIIA (CONICET-UNSAM), Instituto de Investigación e Ingeniería Ambiental, Escuela de Hábitat y Sostenibilidad, Universidad Nacional de General San Martín, Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650, San Martín, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Marta I. Litter

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Dwojak, A.N., Vera, M.L., Traid, H.D. et al. Photocatalytic and mechanical properties of immobilized nanotubular TiO2 photocatalysts obtained by anodic oxidation: a novel combined analysis. Photochem Photobiol Sci 21, 1793–1806 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-022-00257-5

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