The effect of the structural, optical, and surface properties of anatase-TiO2 film on photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue organic contaminant

Abstract

TiO2 film was prepared onto glass substrates with ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique by using the less reported Ti (IV) chloride precursor, and then a highly anatase TiO2 film was successfully produced by annealing at 550 °C for 3 h in air. The structural, optical, and surface properties were characterized in detail by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, UV–vis spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, photoluminescence spectrometry, atomic force microcopy (AFM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Furthermore, to investigate the application potential as a catalyst, the photocatalytic property of TiO2 film was tested by the degradation of methylene blue dye at various time intervals under UV light. It was determined that photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using TiO2 film has the highest correlation with first-order velocity law, and the degradation efficiency was successfully achieved at 66.1% after 1 h. Consequently, an alternative, inexpensive, easily applicable, and highly efficient material was developed for the removal of organic dyes in wastewater.