Photochemical Characterization and Photocatalytic Properties of a Nanostructure CompositeTiO2Film

摘要

An efficient and new composite titania film photocatalyst was fabricatedby sol-gel technique, using precalcined nanopowder titanium dioxidefiller mixed with a sol, spin coating, and heat treatment. The structural andphotocatalytic properties of these films were characterized using SEM,XRD, and UV/Vis spectroscopies. Problems of film inhomogenity anddefects which caused peeling and cracking during calcination because offilm shrinkage were overcome by using methylcellulose (MC) as adispersant. Composite films heat-treated at approximately500°C have the greatest hardness values. Surface morphology of composite deposits by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the composite filmshave much rougher surface than films made without MC. Photocatalyticactivities of the composites film were evaluated through the degradationof three commercial diazo textile dyes, Light Yellow X6G (C.I. ReactiveYellow 2), Solophenyl red 3BL (C.I. Direct 80), and Tertrodirect lightblue R (C.I. Direct blue 71) as a model pollutant.