Photocatalytic activity of titania coatings synthesised by a combined laser/sol–gel technique

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2014.03.007· OSTI ID:22348659

Adraider, Y. ^[1]; Nabhani, F.; Hodgson, S. N. ^[1]; Sharp, M. C.; Al-Waidh, A. ^[2]

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1. School of Science and Engineering, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA (United Kingdom)
2. General Engineering Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF (United Kingdom)

Highlights: • Sol–gel method was used to prepare titania coatings. • Titania thin films were coated on substrate surface by dip coating. • Fibre laser was employed to irradiate the titania coated surfaces. • Photocatalytic efficiency of titania coatings was significantly improved after laser processing. - Abstract: Titania coatings were prepared using sol–gel method and then applied on the substrate surface by dip coating. Fibre laser (λ = 1064 nm) in continuous wave mode was used to irradiate the titania coated surfaces at different specific energies. The ATR-FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDS and contact angle measurement were employed to analyse surface morphology, phase composition and crystalline structure of laser-irradiated titania coatings, whilst the photocatalytic activity was evaluated by measuring the decomposition of methylene blue (MB) after exposure to the visible light for various illumination times. Results showed that the laser-irradiated titania coatings demonstrate significant different composition and microstructure in comparison with the as-coated from the same sol–gel titania. Photocatalytic efficiency of titania coatings was significantly improved after laser processing. The photocatalytic activity of laser-irradiated titania coatings was higher than that of the as-coated titania. The titania coating processed at laser specific energy of 6.5 J/mm{sup 2} exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity among all titania samples.

• OSTI ID: 22348659
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 54; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
DECOMPOSITION
DIP COATING
EFFICIENCY
FOURIER TRANSFORMATION
INFRARED SPECTRA
IRRADIATION
METHYLENE BLUE
MICROSTRUCTURE
PHOTOCATALYSIS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SOL-GEL PROCESS
SUBSTRATES
SYNTHESIS
THIN FILMS
TITANIUM OXIDES
VISIBLE RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION