Semiconducting nanocrystalline films for environmental photocatalysis: effect of the substrate type/composition and deposition techniques

Author(s): A. Panniello, R. Comparelli, D. Diso, A. Licciulli, G. Mascolo, A. S. Franza, M. Striccoli, A. Agostiano, M. L. Curri
Paper category : conference
Book title: International RILEM Symposium on Photocatalysis, Environment and Construction Materials - TDP 2007
Editor(s): P. Baglioni and L. Casssar
Print-ISBN: 978-2-35158-056-1
e-ISBN: 978-2-35158-057-8
Publisher: RILEM Publications SARL
Publication year: 2007
Pages: 65 - 75
Total Pages: 11
Language: English

Abstract: Nanocrystalline titania (TiO2) films were synthesized via sol-gel, using an alkoxide precursor, under different processing conditions, deposited onto fibers, namely E-Glass and Nextel 650 alumina, and the photocatalytic activity of the coated fibers has been investigated as a function of processing and material parameters and the type of fiber, through the decolouration of an azo dye (Methyl Red) under UV irradiation in aqueous solution. Nanocrystalline TiO2 with different morphological and structural characteristics morphology were obtained and characterized using the scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller (BET) surface area measurement techniques. Their photocatalytic activity was monitored using a UV-visible spectrometer. The photocatalytic activity of the sol-gel-derived nanocrystalline TiO2 upon deposition onto the fibers as been observed to be a function of titania content, calcination temperature, presence of a silica buffer on the fiber prior to the titania based film deposition and type of fiber. The observed photocatalytic performances of the sol-gel-derived nanocrystallineTiO2 have been explained on the base of the existing mechanism associated with the photocatalytic decomposition of organic molecules using semiconductor oxides and accounted for the structural and morphological characteristics of the titania based coating.

Online publication: 2011-07-01
Publication type : full_text
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