Fabrication and photocatalytic activity of TiO2/MoO3 particulate films

Abstract

TiO2 and TiO2/MoO3 particulate films were successfully prepared using a Langmuir-Blodgett technique. The as-deposited films were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The results indicate that the TiO2 and TiO2/MoO3 films are composed of separate layers of TiO2 and MoO3 particles. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity of the films was evaluated from the decomposition of a stearic acid film under ultraviolet and visible light irradiation. It was found that photocatalytic activity is significantly enhanced by the layer structure of the TiO2/MoO3 film, compared to the single layer TiO2 film. Copyright © 2009 by Japan Oil Chemists' Society.