Influence of titanium precursor on the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 sprayed films under visible light

Abstract

Thin nano-sized TiO2 films were deposited on aluminum foil substrates by the spray pyrolysis method, using Ti(i-OPr)4 (TIP) and TiCl 4 (TC) as precursors. The films were characterized by means of X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). According to the XRD patterns the as-deposited films appear to be amorphous. The thermal treatment at 400°C leads to the formation of anatase nano-crystallites. The XPS analyses showed that the Ti2p broad photoelectron peak of as-deposited TC films indicated a mixture of Ti 3+ and Ti4+ oxidation states. After treatment at 400°C the Ti2p peak displays only Ti4+ oxidation state for both TIP and TC films. The number of hydroxyl groups on the surface is decreased after the thermal treatment. The photocatalytic activity of the films was studied towards degradation of azo dye Reactive Black 5 (RB5) as model wastewater pollutant under visible light illumination. It was found out that the films obtained from TC were more active than those obtained from TIP films. The thermally treated samples are better photocatalysts than those non-treated, because they posses anatase crystalline phase and stoichiometric TiO2. The TOC measurements showed minimal concentration of total organic carbon in the dye solution after 180 min of visible light irradiation.