Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nb-doped TiO2 thin films as photocatalytic materials

  • Published:
Bulletin of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Amorphous undoped and Nb-doped films were obtained by the spin coating method. The films have a compact structure, as revealed by scanning electron microscopy, and are very thin, with thickness values under 100 nm. The photocatalytic activity of the films was evaluated by observing the decomposition of an oleic acid solution under UV irradiation, and by studying the change in the optical transmittance of an aqueous solution containing methylene blue, in the presence of the UV-irradiated films. More than 30 h, depending on doping, are needed to recover their initial contact angles before applying oleic acid. The increase of the optical transmittance of the methylene blue solution confirms the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue on the Nb-doped TiO2 films. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies, performed to detect the presence of the carbon on the irradiated surface of the films, drive to the conclusion that at the surface of the films, even for contact angles close to 0 ∘, the presence of carbon still can be detected, which demonstrates that hydrophilicity is ruled by a different mechanism than photocatalysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Mashreghi A and Davoudi F 2014 Mater. Sci. Semicond. Proc. 26 669

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Vaiciulis I, Girtan M, Stanculescu A, Leontie L, Habelhames F and Antohe S 2012 Proc. Rom. Acad. Ser. A 13 335

    Google Scholar 

  3. Girtan M and Mallet R 2014 Proc. Rom. Acad. Ser. A 15 146

    Google Scholar 

  4. Melián E P, Suárez M N, Jardiel T, Rodríguez J M D, Caballero A C, Araña J, Calatayud D G and Díaz O G 2014 Appl. Catal. B – Environ. 152 192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Ilie M, Cojocaru B, Parvulescu V I and Garcia H 2011 Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 36 15509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Mardare D, Iftimie N, Crişan M, Răileanu M, Yildiz A, Coman T, Pomoni K and Vomvas A 2011 J. Non-Cryst. Solids 357 1774

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Elghniji K, Ksibi M and Elaloui E 2012 J. Ind. Eng. Chem. 18 178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Mardare D, Cornei N, Luca D, Dobromir M, Irimiciuc S A, Pungă L, Pui A and Adomnitei C 2014 J. Appl. Phys. 115 213501–1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Apetrei R, Catrinescu C, Mardare D, Teodorescu C M and Luca D 2009 Thin Solid Films 518 1040

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Crisan D, Dragan N, Raileanu M, Crisan M, Ianculescu A, Luca D, Nastuta A and Mardare D 2011 Appl. Surf. Sci. 257 4227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Rambu A P, Doroftei C, Ursu L and Iacomi F 2013 J. Mater. Sci. 48 4305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Mardare D, Yildiz A, Girtan M, Manole A, Dobromir M, Irimia M, Adomnitei C, Cornei N and Luca D 2012 J. Appl. Phys. 112 073502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Yildiz A and Mardare D 2011 Philos. Mag. 91 4401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Manole A, Dascalenu V, Dobromir M and Luca D 2010, Surf. Interface Anal. 42 947

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Mattsson A, Leideborg M, Larsson K, Westin G and Österlund L 2006 J. Phys. Chem. B 110 1210

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Hung K H, Lee P W, Hsu W C, Hsing H C, Chang H T and Wong M S 2011 J. Alloys Compd. 509 10190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Wenzel R N 1949 J. Phys. Chem. 53 1466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Hashimoto K, Irie H and Fujishima A 2005 Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 44 8269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Kaleji B K, Mamoory R S and Sanjabi S 2011 React. Kinet. Mech. Catal. 103 289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Sharma S D, Singh D, Saini K K, Kant C, Sharma V, Jain S C and Sharma C P 2006 Appl. Catal. A – Gen. 314 40

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ‘Alexandru Ioan Cuza’ University, Faculty of Physics, 11 Carol I Blvd., 700506, Iasi, Romania

    CATALIN ADOMNITEI, DUMITRU LUCA, MARIUS DOBROMIR & DIANA MARDARE

  2. ‘Alexandru Ioan Cuza’ University, Research Center on Advanced Materials and Technologies, Sciences Department, 11 Carol I Blvd., 700506, Iasi, Romania

    SORIN TASCU

  3. Photonics Laboratory, Angers University, 2, Bd. Lavoisier, 49045, Angers, France

    MIHAELA GIRTAN

Authors
  1. CATALIN ADOMNITEI
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. SORIN TASCU
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. DUMITRU LUCA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. MARIUS DOBROMIR
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. MIHAELA GIRTAN
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. DIANA MARDARE
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to DIANA MARDARE.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

ADOMNITEI, C., TASCU, S., LUCA, D. et al. Nb-doped TiO2 thin films as photocatalytic materials. Bull Mater Sci 38, 1259–1262 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-015-1008-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-015-1008-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation