A new precursor for the preparation of nanocrystalline TiO2 films and their photocatalytic properties.
In this work, we present a new precursor for the preparation of thin and transparent nanocrystalline TiO2 films, which involves the use of Titanium(IV) bis(ammonium lactato) dihydroxide as Ti(IV) source and Triton X-100 as surfactant template. The films were heated at various temperatures in order to optimize their nanostructure and their photocatalytic activity. The morphology and the nanostructure of the films were characterized by SEM and AFM. Crystallinity of the films was examined by XRD and their light absorption with UV-Vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the films was investigated by using an azo dye: Basic Blue 41. Excitation of the samples was made by low intensity black light tubes emitting in the Near-UV. The photodegradation of the dye was studied as a function of the quality of the deposited TiO2 films and the calcination temperature in comparison with similar films made by standard procedures.
Engineering Science Department, University of Patras, 26500 Patras, Greece.
Katerina
K
Pelentridou
Elias
E
Stathatos
Panagiotis
P
Lianos
Vassilios
V
Drakopoulos