title: TiO2-coated nanostructures for dye photo-degradation in water.
abstract: The photocatalytic efficiency of a thin-film TiO2-coated nanostructured template is studied by dye degradation in water. The nanostructured template was synthesized by metal-assisted wet etching of Si and used as substrate for the deposition of a thin film of TiO2 (10 nm thick) by atomic layer deposition. A complete structural characterization was made by scanning and transmission electron microscopies. The significant photocatalytic performance was evaluated by the degradation of two dyes in water: methylene blue and methyl orange. The relevance of the reported results is discussed, opening the route toward the application of the synthesized nanostructured TiO2 for water purification.
authors.affiliation: CNR-IMM MATIS, Via S. Sofia 64, Catania 95123, Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scuderi
authors.affiliation: CNR-IMM MATIS, Via S. Sofia 64, Catania 95123, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Impellizzeri
authors.affiliation: CNR-IMM MATIS, Via S. Sofia 64, Catania 95123, Italy ; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 64, Catania 95123 Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: CNR-IMM, Z.I. VIII Strada 5, Catania 95121, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scuderi
authors.affiliation: CNR-IMM, Z.I. VIII Strada 5, Catania 95121, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicotra
authors.affiliation: Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. Box 1048, Oslo 0318, Norway.
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bergum
authors.affiliation: CNR-IPCF, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 37, Faro Superiore, Messina 98158, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Irrera
authors.affiliation: Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. Box 1048, Oslo 0318, Norway.
authors.forename: Bengt G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Svensson
authors.affiliation: CNR-IMM MATIS, Via S. Sofia 64, Catania 95123, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Privitera
keywords: 81.07.-b; 81.15.Gh; 89.60.Ec; Nanostructure; Photocatalysis; TiO2; Water