New Preparation Method of Visible Light Responsive Titanium Dioxide Photocatalytic Films

Kaori Nishizawa,Masahisa Okada,Eiji Watanabe

doi:10.4236/msa.2014.53016

Abstract

We report a new and simple preparation method of the visible light responsive Titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalytic films using sol-gel method and ultraviolet light (UV) irradiation. Proposed films were prepared on fused silica plates using titanium tetra-isopropoxide, urea, 2-methoxyethanol, water and UV irradiation. The 650°C-annealed films were carbon-containing anatase type TiO2, not carbon-doped ones. The prepared films absorbed visible light with wavelengths longer than 400 nm. Also, organic dyes were effectively photodegradated by visible light irradiation in the presence of these films.

Highlights

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely studied for many applications, such as paints, cloth fibers, cosmetics and microelectronics, optical cells, solar energy conversion, photocatalyst for environmental purification and production of hydrogen gas, and so on
We report a safety and simple preparation method of the visible light responsive TiO2 photocatalytic films by sol-gel and UV irradiation method
It was suggested that TiO2 became able to absorb the visible light because the carbon contents in the TiO2 improved by urea addition and UV irradiation

Summary

Introduction

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been widely studied for many applications, such as paints, cloth fibers, cosmetics and microelectronics, optical cells, solar energy conversion, photocatalyst for environmental purification and production of hydrogen gas, and so on. One promising approach to synthesizing visible light active photocatalysts is the substitution of Ti by transition metals, such as V, Cr, Ni, or Fe, and so on [12]-[15] Most of these metal-doped TiO2 do not show long-term stability or do not have sufficient activities for wide range of applications. It is reported that the TiO2 modified with C induce the visible light absorption by band gap narrowing or a role as photosensitizer like organic dyes In these ways, the design of the electronic structure or the chemical modification of metal oxides was very effective for controlling their optical properties. We report a safety and simple preparation method of the visible light responsive TiO2 photocatalytic films by sol-gel and UV irradiation method

Preparation of TiO2 Precursor Sol Solutions

Preparation of TiO2 Films

Characterization

Photocatalytic Evaluation of TiO2 Films

Characterization of the TiO2 Films

Conclusion