Photocatalytic activity of TiO2 thin films prepared in the presence of organic and inorganic additives

Author(s): L. Palmisano , G. Marcì , E. García-López and A. Di Paola
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: 273 - 280
Total Pages: 8
Language: English

Abstract: TiO2 thin films were deposited on glass slides by dip-coating the support in ethanolic or buthanolic titanium tetraisopropoxide solution. The thickness of the films was adjusted by changing the number of cycles of dipping. The films were calcined at 773 K for 3 h. Some of them were prepared by using in the coating solution organic additives as: citric acid, glycerol, urea, thiourea or inorganic ones as: Cr(III), Mn(II), Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) or Zn(II) salts. All materials were characterised by optical and scanning electron microscopy and UVvis spectroscopy. The thickness of the films was measured by optical profilometry. Their photocatalytic activity was studied in the gas-solid regime for the degradation of 2-propanol under UV irradiation.
All films were photocatalytically active and no deactivation was observed. Conversion of 2-propanol and initial reaction rate increased with the thickness of the film. Propanone and acetaldehyde were obtained as intermediate products. Bare TiO2 films revealed a higher conversion on respect to those obtained in the presence of additives but their presence increased, in some cases, the selectivity to propanone reaching the value of 98% when urea was used.

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