Scaling up anodic TiO2 nanotube layers for gas phase photocatalysis

Abstract

In this work, for the first time, an anodic TiO2 nanotube layer of large area (~50 cm2) was used for photocatalysis in the gaseous phase. Hexane was chosen as model pollutant. The nanotube layer showed superior efficiency compared to a reference TiO2 layer of the same thickness composed of immobilized P25 nanoparticles. An additional TiO2 coating of the nanotube layer produced by atomic layer deposition did not enhance the photocatalytic degradation of hexane due to a decrease in the active surface area, in contrast to liquid state photocatalysis under applied external potential.