title: Influence of temperature on the photocatalytic activity of sol-gel TiO2 films.
abstract: The photocatalytic activity of TiO(2) films synthesized via the sol-gel process has been measured as a function of UV irradiation time and substrate temperature. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy has been used to address the chemical changes in stearic acid and block copolymer Pluronic F127 films deposited on the photocatalytic surface. When the temperature of the photocatalytic substrate was raised above 50 degrees C, the removal of stearic acid from the surface was strongly affected by a process involving evaporation, whereas Pluronic F127 revealed a superior stability. Our study shows that heat enhances the photocatalytic activity, suggesting the importance of an accurate temperature control in photocatalytic efficiency measurements.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costacurta
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dal Maso
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guglielmi
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brusatin
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falcaro
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D044367:Phase Transition; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium