Photoactivity and hydrophilic property of SiO2 and SnO2 co-doped TiO2 nano-composite thin films

SiO2 and SnO2 co-doped TiO2 nano-composite thin films were prepared by sol-gel method. The effects of film thicknessand amount of SiO2 and SnO2 co-doping into TiO2 nano-composite films on phase presence, crystallite size, photocatalyticreaction and hydrophilicity were investigated. Thickness of 3-coating layers (238 nm) seems to provide the highest photocatalyticactivity. The crystallinity of anatase phases, crystallite sizes and photocatalytic reactions of SiO2 and SnO2 co-dopedTiO2 films decrease with an increase in SiO2 content. It was found that more amount of SiO2 addition seems to inhibit graingrowth and the formation of anatase phase; especially when it was synthesized at temperature less than 600°C. The photocatalyticreaction seems to decrease with an increase in SiO2 doping when the concentrations of SnO2 in the composite films are fixed. It was apparent that 1SiO2/1SnO2/TiO2 composite film exhibits the highest photoactivity. Suitable amounts of SiO2and SnO2 doping into the TiO2 composite films tend to enhance the hydrophilic property of the films. It was also apparentthat the 3SiO2/3SnO2/TiO2, 5SiO2/5SnO2/TiO2 and 10SiO2/3SnO2/TiO2 composite films exhibit super hydrophilic characteristicsunder UV irradiation for 30 min

Effect of doped SiO2 and calcinations temperature on phase transformation of TiO2 photocatalyst prepared by sol-gel method

The purpose of this research was to study the effect of calcinations temperature and SiO2 addition on phase transformation,crystallite size, and photocatalytic activity of SiO2/TiO2 thin films by using indigo carmine as an indicator. Thecomposite particles were prepared by sol-gel method via calcinations at a temperature range of 300-700oC for 2 h, and thecomposite thin films were prepared by means of spin coating. The microstructure and crystallite size of pure TiO2 and SiO2/TiO2 composite powders were characterized by using XRD, SEM and DTA. It was found that anatase structures wereformed at a calcinations temperature range of 300-600oC and mixed phases of anatase and rutile were observed at a temperatureof 700oC. Crystallite size of pure TiO2 tends to increase with an increase in calcinations temperature. Doped SiO2in the TiO2 has an effect on crystal phases and crystallite size of the composite powders and thin films, resulting in thechange of the photocatalytic activity of TiO2