Microwave-assisted preparation of photoactive TiO₂ on textile substrates

Textiles are suitable substrates for photocatalytic materials such as titania, which can be introduced for different applications as wastewater cleaning or cleaning of air pollution. The actual investigation is related to the development of a microwave-assisted preparation of photoactive titania on textile substrates. The microwave application is part of a hydrothermal process which is used to promote the condensation of the titanium organic precursor to photoactive titania. The condensation of the precursor and therefore the preparation of titania is done directly on the textile surface, while the water and acid necessary for the condensation are transported via the gas phase to the textile. Photoactivity is determined by decomposition of organic dye (acid orange 7) under illumination with UV light. Further investigations are performed by scanning electron microscopy SEM, energy-dispersive spectroscopy EDS, and infrared spectroscopy. The determined photocatalytic effect of the realized titania materials strongly depends on the applied process temperature and also on process duration. Significant photoactivity is reached even after short processes of only 5 min and moderate process temperatures around 120°C. Under these mild process conditions, damaging the textile substrate during the preparation process is avoided.