Preparation of TiO2/SiO2 nanocomposite with non-ionic surfactants via sol-gel process and their photocatalytic study

Abstract

TiO2/SiO2 nanocomposite particles were prepared from TTIP precursor for titania and TEOS precursor for silica, by using a sol-gel method at low temperature in acidic pH with various templates: poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and Triton X-100 (TX-100). The properties of resulting Ti/Si nanocomposites materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy; Photo-Luminescence spectra and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques. The results show that the TS cores were uniformly coated by Triton X-100 having spherical nanoparticles. XRD result showed that TS:TX smaller crystallite size than the TS:TX nanocomposite particles and both samples include anatase phase. The UV-Vis spectrum of as-synthesized samples shows absorption in the visible range. The PL emission intensity of TS:TX nanocomposite was slightly decreased compared with TS:PEG nanocomposite due to decrease in recombination rate. From FTIR results metal oxide stretching was confirmed in both the samples. The photocatalytic activity of samples was tested for degradation of methylene blue (MB) solutions. The results clearly showed that Triton X-100 coated TS sample exhibited higher activity than that of TS:PEG under UV irradiation, due to the low recombination rate of photo-generated electrons and holes.