Photocatalytic evaluation of a titania thin film on glazed porcelain substrates via a TiCl4 precursor

Abstract

In this study, the preparation of titania dip-coated thin films on glazed porcelain substrates via the sol–gel process was investigated. The crystal structure and morphology of the dip-coated thin films were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The surface topography of the thin films was examined by atomic force microscope (AFM). Photocatalytic properties of the titania thin films were investigated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB). XRD patterns showed an increase in peak intensities of the crystalline phase by increasing the calcination temperature. The thickness of the thin film was less than 1 μm. The AFM image indicates that the surface morphology of the films is granular with about 50 nm average grain size. Higher photocatalytic activity of titania thin films was measured in the samples calcined at 400 °C.