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Enhancing photocatalytic ability of TiO2 films using gel-derived P/Si-TiO2 powder

  • Original Paper: Functional coatings, thin films and membranes (including deposition techniques)
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Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

P/Si-TiO2 photocatalytic thick films on FTO glass substrates were prepared. TiO2 thin films, as base layer, were first coated on substrates using a spin-coating technique. The slurry containing P/Si-TiO2 nanoparticles was bar-coated on the surface of TiO2 base layer, followed by calcining at 550 °C. The resultant films were characterized using x-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, UV–Vis spectrophotometer, crosscut adhesion test, and recycling-use test. Under 365-nm UV-light irradiation, abilities of the films to photocatalytically degrade methylene blue were evaluated. The apparent rate laws obeyed 1st-order and the corresponding reaction rate constants (k′), based on the coated area of substrates, were estimated. k′ of the thick film (thickness: 6.5 μm; composition: P/Si-TiO2 anatase crystallites with 16 nm average size) was 49.0 L/(m2-sub. h), which was about eight times of that of the thin film (k′ = 6.2 L/(m2-sub. h); thickness: 215 nm; composition: pure TiO2 anatase crystallites with 8-nm average size).

Highlights

  • P/Si-TiO2 thick films with high photocatalytic activities firmly adhered to FTO glass substrates were prepared using spin-coating, sol-gel and barcoating techniques.

  • The porous thick film (thickness: 6.5 μm) has its reaction rate constant about 8 times of that of the TiO2 thin film (thickness: 215 nm).

  • In kinetic study, the assumption of ignoring the effect of photolysis of dye on concentration changes should be used with cautious considerations, otherwise the photocatalytic activity of the film may be overestimated.

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  1. Ceramic Materials Laboratory, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Tamkang University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, 25137

    Hsuan-Fu Yu & Chao-Wei Cheng

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Yu, HF., Cheng, CW. Enhancing photocatalytic ability of TiO2 films using gel-derived P/Si-TiO2 powder. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 97, 259–270 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-020-05450-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-020-05450-5

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