Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Preparation and characterisation of novel thick sol-gel titania film photocatalysts

  • Published:
Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The preparation and characterization of thick (9 ώm), clear, mechanically robust and photocatalytically active films of nanocrystalline anatase titania are described. XRD and SEM analysis show the films comprise 13 nm particles of anatase TiO2. Thin (54 nm) films of the ‘paste’ TiO2, along with sol-gel titania films made by a more traditional route are also prepared and characterised. All titania films mediate the photocatalytic destruction of stearic acid with a quantum yield of 0.0016 ± 0.0003, using either 365 nm (i.e. BLB) or 254 nm (germicidal) light. P25 TiO2 films also appear to mediate the same process with a similar formal quantum efficiency. Of all the films tested, the thick paste TiO2 films are the most ideally suited for use with near UV light, for reasons which are discussed. All the titania films tested exhibit photoinduced superhydrophilicity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. A. Mills and S. LeHunte, An overview of semiconductor photocatalysis J. Photochem. Photobiol. A 1997 108 1–35 and references therein

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. A. Fujishima, T. N. Rao and D. Tryk, Titanium dioxide photocatalysis J. Photochem. Photobiol. C 200011–21

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. V. Ashton, Windows of the future, Chem. Brit., 2002, June, 26–28

    Google Scholar 

  4. A. Mills, S.-K. Lee A Web-based overview of semiconductor photochemistry-based current commercial applications J. Photochem. Photobiol. A 2002 152 233–247 and references therein

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. N. Negishi, T. Iyoda, K. Hashimoto and A. Fujishima, Preparation of transparent TiO2 film photocatalyst and its photocatalytic activity Chem. Lett. 1995841–842

    Google Scholar 

  6. Y. Paz, Z. Luo, L. Rabenberg and A. Heller, Photooxidative self-cleaning transparent titanium dioxide films on glass J. Mater. Res. 1995 10 2842–2848

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. R. Fretwell and P. Douglas, An active, robust and transparent nanocrystalline anatase TiO2 thin film - preparation, characterisation and the kinetics of photodegradation of model pollutants J. Photochem. Photobiol. A 2001 143 229–240

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. A. Mills, S-K. Lee, A. Lepre, I. P. Parkin and S. A. O’Neill Spectral and photocatalytic characteristics of TiO2 CVD films on quartz Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. 20021865–868

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. A. Hagfeldt and M. Grätzel Light-induced redox reactions in nanocrystalline systems Chem. Rev. 1995 95 49–68

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. C. J. Barbé, F. Arendse, P. Comte, M. Jirousek, F. Lenzmann, V. Shklover and M. Grätzel Nanocrystalline titanium oxide electrodes for photovoltaic applications J. Am. Ceram. Soc. 1997 80 3157–3171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. G. Porter, Chemistry in Microtime: Selected Writings on Flash Photolysis, Free Radicals and the Excited State, ed. G. Porter, Imperial College Press, London, 1997

  12. J. G. Calvert and J. N. Pitts, Photochemistry, Wiley, New York, 1967, 78–786

    Google Scholar 

  13. S. Doeuff, M. Henry, C. Sanchez and J. Livage, Hydrolysis of titanium alkoxides: modification of the molecular precursor by acetic acid J. Non-Cryst. Solids 1987 89 206–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. J. Livage and C. Sanchez, Sol-gel chemistry J. Non-Cryst. Solids 1992 145 11–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. F. Babonneau, C. Sanchez and J. Livage, Spectroscopic characterisation of sol-gel processing J. Non-Cryst. Solids 1988 106 170–173

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. A. Zaban, S. T. Aruna, S. Tirosh, B. A. Gregg and Y. Mastai, The effect of the preparation conditions of TiO2 colloids on their surface structures J. Phys. Chem. B 2002 104 4130–4133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. P. Sawanyama, L. Jiang, A. Fujishima and K. Hashimoto, Photodecomposition of a Langmuir-Blodgett film of stearic acid on TiO2 film observed by in situ atomic force microscopy and FT-IR J. Phys. Chem. B 1997 101 11000–11003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. T. Minabe, D. A. Tryk, P. Sawanyama, Y. Kikuchi, K. Hashimoto and A. Fujishima, TiO2-mediated photodegradation of liquid and solid organic compounds J. Photochem. Photobiol. A 2000 137 53–62

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. S. Sitkiewitz and A. Heller, Photocatalytic oxidation of benzene and stearic acid on sol-gel derived TiO2 thin films attached to glass New J. Chem. 1996 20 233–241

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. A. Mills, N. Elliott, I. P. Parkin, S. A. O’Neill and R. J. Clark, Novel TiO2 films for semiconductor photocatalysis J. Photochem. Photobiol. 2002 151 171–179

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde Thomas Graham Building, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G1 1XL, UK

    Andrew Mills, Nicholas Elliott, George Hill & David Fallis

  2. Department of Chemistry, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, SW7 2AY, UK

    James R. Durrant & Richard L. Willis

Authors
  1. Andrew Mills
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nicholas Elliott
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. George Hill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. David Fallis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. James R. Durrant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Richard L. Willis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Dedicated to the memory of Nobel Laureate, Lord George Porter FRSC FRS OM.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mills, A., Elliott, N., Hill, G. et al. Preparation and characterisation of novel thick sol-gel titania film photocatalysts. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2, 591–596 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1039/b212865a

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/b212865a

Search

Navigation