Self-cleaning Properties of TiO_2/palygorskite and TiO_2/halloysite Nanocomposite Coatings

摘要

Tubular halloysite and microfibrous palygorskite clay mineral combined with nanocrystalline TiO_2 are involved in the preparation of nanocomposite films on glass substrates via sol-gel route at 450°C. The synthesis employing nonionic surfactant molecule as pore directing agent along with the acetic acid-based sol-gel route without addition of water molecules. Drying and thermal treatment of composite films ensure elimination of organic material lead to the formation of TiO_2 nanoparticles homogeneously distributed on the palygorskite and halloysite surfaces. Nanocomposite films without cracks of active anatase crystal phase on palygorskite and halloysite surfaces are characterized by microscopy techniques, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and porosimetry methods in order to examine their structural properties. The composite palygorskite-TiO_2 and halloysite/TiO_2 films with variable quantities of palygorskite and halloysite were tested as photocatalysts in the photo-oxidation of Basic Blue 41 azo dye in water. These nanocomposite films proved to be most promising photocatalysts and highly effective to dye's decoloration in spite of small amount of palygorskite/TiO_2 or halloysite/TiO_2 catalyst immobilized onto glass substrates.