The Phase Transformation, Morphology Evolution and Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activity of V-Doped TiO2 Thin Films

Abstract

V-doped TiO2 thin films had been fabricated on glass substrates via sol–gel method. These films were characterised by simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the nanoparticle shape of the TiO2 films changed from spindle shape to sphere-like shape with the increase of V doping. The anatase-to-rutile transformation was accelerated by the presence of vanadium doping. The 10 mol% V-doped TiO2 films with a mixed phase of anatase and rutile exhibited better visible light photocatalytic performance.