Photocatalytic Decomposition of Acetaldehyde with Anatase Nanocrystals-Dispersed Silica Films Prepared by the Sol-Gel Process with Hot Water Treatment

Anatase nanocrystals of 5 to 10 nm in diameter were formed in the silica-titania films by treatment with hot water. The formation of nanocrystals with hot water treatment was a unique phenomenon to the silica-titania system and the addition of organic polymers such as PEG was indispensable for the high dispersion of anatase nanocrystals in the films. The hydrolysis of Si—O—Ti bonds with hot water was considered to play an important role for the formation of anatase nanocrystals. The resultant films were transparent even after the formation of anatase nanocrystals. Acetaldehyde was photocatalytically decomposed into CO₂ on the films which were subjected to a hot water treatment. The amounts of generated CO₂ were twice of that of introduced acetaldehyde, indicating that the total acetaldehyde was completely decomposed to CO₂. Anatase nanocrystals-dispersed films can be formed on various kinds of substrates including those with poor heat resistance such as organic polymers and organisms by this process, so that the substrates coated with the films are expected to be widely used for photocatalytic applications.     

Evaluation of Photocatalytic Activity of Transparent Anatase Nanocrystals-Dispersed Silica Films Prepared by the Sol-Gel Process with Hot Water Treatment

Anatase nanocrystals were precipitated mainly at the surface of the silica-titania gel films with hot water treatment, whereas the addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in the films led to the dispersion of anatase nanocrystals in the whole of the films after the treatment. Both films with and without PEG showed high photocatalytic activities for acetaldehyde, NO _x and stearic acid in the gas-solid system, and for methylene blue and potassium iodide in the liquid-solid system. The addition of PEG improved the photocatalytic activities of the resultant films due to the smaller anatase crystallites and the porous film structure. The residual silica under-layer of the superficially anatase-precipitated films is expected to act as a protective one for an organic polymer substrate against the photocatalytic degradation.     

Formation of Anatase Nanocrystals-Precipitated Silica Coatings on Plastic Substrates by the Sol-Gel Process with Hot Water Treatment

Anatase nanocrystals-precipitated silica coatings were formed on plastic substrates such as poly(ethylene terephtalate) (PET), acrylic resin (AC) and polycarbonate (PC) from silica-titania gel coatings with and without addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) by hot water treatment. The maximum thickness of the coatings which can be formed without cracking or peeling-off was 100 to 200 nm for PET and PC substrates, whereas it was less than 50 nm for AC substrates. After a hot water treatment at 90°C for 120 min, the size of the anatase nanocrystals increased to be 30 and 50 nm for the coatings obtained with and without PEG, respectively. Anatase nanocrystals were formed throughout the whole of the coatings obtained with PEG and were formed only on the surface of the coatings obtained without PEG. Both coatings obtained with and without PEG were highly transparent. The plastic substrates with coatings obtained without PEG showed good weathering resistance owing to the protective effects of the residual silica under-layer. The coatings obtained with PEG showed higher photocatalytic activities than those obtained without PEG due to smaller size and higher dispersion of anatase nanocrystals in the coatings.     

Sol-Gel Derived TiO2-SiO2 Fibres

TiO₂−SiO₂ fibres with 0, 5, 10 and 20 volume % SiO₂ have been prepared by drawing from a gel followed by sintering at different temperatures. Nearly one meter long fibres can be drawn easily in conditions of about 50% relative humidity. Addition of SiO₂ inhibits the crystallisation of TiO₂ and also the anatase → rutile transformation and improves the strength of the fibres. While the pure TiO₂ fibres are brittle, those with 5, 10 and 20 volume % SiO₂ are flexible and strong. Tensile strength values as high as 3 GPa have been achieved in the 10 volume % SiO₂−TiO₂ fibres. Fibres heated above 900°C are brittle. The shape of the cross section of the fibres is found to depend on their diameters.     

Properties and Photoelectrocatalytic Behaviour of Sol-Gel Derived TiO2 Thin Films

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films have been prepared on indium doped tin oxide (ITO) glass by sol-gel dip-coating method. Properties of the films were determined as a function of heat-treatment by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and photoelectrochemical tests. The films heat-treated at higher temperatures show better crystallinity and photoresponse. The microscopic structure on the film after heat-treatment is attributed to the incorporation of organic polymer into the precursor solution. The performance of the electrodes treated at different temperature on photoelectrocatalytic degradation of methyl orange was investigated. The effect of applied potential and the ability of the electrode to be repeatedly used in photoelectrocatalytic degradation were also evaluated.     

Photocatalytic Activity and Characterization of the Sol-Gel Derived Pb-Doped TiO2 Thin Films

Photocatalytically active Pb-doped TiO₂ thin films were prepared on a soda-lime glass substrate by sol-gel dip-coating technique using TiO₂ sols containing lead(II) nitrate. The thin films were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-VIS spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). A shift of the UV-VIS absorption towards longer wavelengths was observed, which indicated a decrease in the band-gap of TiO₂ upon Pb doping. XRD results showed both pure and Pb-doped TiO₂ thin films were polycrystalline, anatase type, and oriented predominantly to the (101) plane. A slight shift in the d-spacing for the Pb-doped film indicated the incorporation of Pb into the TiO₂ lattice to form Pb _x Ti_1–x O₂ solid solution. AFM results showed Pb-doped TiO₂ thin films were composed of larger TiO₂ particles and had rougher surface, compared with un-doped TiO₂ thin films. XPS results showed that except for the enrichment of Pb near the surface, Pb exists in the forms of Pb _x Ti_1–x O₂ and PbO. Dimethyl-2,2-dichlorovinyl phosphate (DDVP) was efficiently degraded in the presence of the Pb-doped TiO₂ thin films by exposing the insecticide solution to sunlight. The mechanism of photocatalytic activity enhancement of the Pb-doped TiO₂ thin films was discussed.     

Structure of TiO2 in TiO2-SiO2 prepared by a complexing agent-assisted sol-gel procedure

Many types of TiO₂-SiO₂ (Ti:Si=50:50 mol%) were prepared by the sol-gel procedure with and without 2-methyl-2, 4-pentanediol (MPD) as an organic ligand. The effect of MPD on the gel structure and the properties of the TiO₂ crystals were studied by XRD and raman spectroscopy, and the effect of the sol standing time on the properties of the TiO₂ crystals were also studied by XRD spectroscopy. In the gels with MPD, anatase of TiO₂ appeared at approximately 580°C, and the crystal structures were similar despite the difference in the gel preparation procedure. The titania gels with MPD were presumed to be dispersed in the silica gel matrix without any Ti-O-Si bond. In the presence of MPD, the formation of titania gels is controlled and the specified TiO₂ crystal is produced.     

Effect of Zirconia Precursor on the Properties of ZrO2-SiO2 Sol-Gel Oxides

Sol-gel zirconia-silica oxides were synthesized with two zirconium precursors, zirconium n-butoxide and zirconium acetylacetonate, and two different hydrolysis catalysts, HCl and H₂SO₄. The samples prepared with HCl were additionally sulfated with a 1 M solution of H₂SO₄. Characterization was performed with FTIR and ²⁹Si-MAS-NMR spectroscopy, as well as with nitrogen adsorption. Because zirconium and silicon alkoxides have different hydrolysis rates, it was necessary to perform a pre-hydrolysis of the silicon alkoxide before mixing. The atom distribution in the ZrO₂-SiO₂ system depended on the zirconium precursor, which also determined the zirconium incorporation in the silica lattice, which was greater for zirconium acetylacetonate. The zirconium precursor also was responsible for the silanol concentration, which increases when samples were sulfated. Sulfating stabilizes the specific surface area. On sulfate samples calcined at 800°C BET areas larger than 500 m²/g were obtained.     

水热处理锐钛矿TiO2纳米管阵列及其增强的光电催化活性

在含氟溶液中,通过电化学阳极氧化钛片成功制备了高度有序的TiO2纳米管阵列,先在450℃下煅烧使其晶化为锐钛矿相,再在不同温度下水热处理了这些锐钛矿阵列。用XRD、SEM和XPS表征了所制备的样品。通过在氙灯光照下光电催化降解对氯苯酚水溶液来检测样品的活性。以对苯二甲酸作为探测分子,用荧光光谱检测了在氙灯光光照下样品表面产生的羟基自由基(.OH)。通过线性伏安扫描的间隙光照实验,测定了样品的光电流响应。结果表明后水热处理对锐钛矿TiO2纳米管阵列的结晶度和形貌没有影响,但光电催化活性明显增强,而不同温度处理的样品的活性差别不大。水热处理后的TiO2纳米管阵列的光电催化活性增强的原因是,水热后TiO2纳米管阵列表面羟基含量明显增加,使得其在光电催化过程中生成的.OH增加。     

Sol-Gel Derived Functionally Graded TiO2/HAP Films on Ti-6Al-4V Implants

Functionally graded TiO₂/HAP coatings were prepared on Ti6Al4V implants by sol-gel process using calcium nitrate and phosphoric acid dissolved in ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, and titanium isopropoxide chelated by acethylacetone, isopropanol and water as starting materials. TiO₂/HAP coating sols with variable HAP concentrations from 0% to 100% at 10% intervals were orderly spin coated on the substrates and pyrolyzed at 500°C in air. Well-crystallized HAP coatings between coating and substrate confirmed by X-ray diffraction and field emission-scanning electron microscopy were obtained by final annealing at 500°C in argon. In this work, bioactivities of the coating were studied by examining the variation of ion concentration of Ca and P in simulated body fluid after soaking using an inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer. Coating surfaces after soaking in simulated body fluid indicated significant morphological changes by field emission-scanning electron microscopy.     

Sol-Gel Preparation of Fast Proton-Conducting P2O5-SiO2 Glasses

We have investigated the proton conductivities of the sol-gel-derived P₂O₅-SiO₂ glass at –50 to 120°C. The obtained glass is porous, where the surface area, pore volume and pore diameter are 740 m²/g, 0.5 cm³/g and <5 nm, respectively. The freezing temperature of water molecules adsorbed in the pores was –20°C, which is much lower than that of free liquid water due to the quantum size effect of the water confined in the pores. The electrical conductivities followed the Arrhenius equation in the temperatures between –20 and 120°C. Below –20°C, the adsorbed-water molecules were frozen, resulting in a rapid decrease of the proton conductivity. Considering the high conductivity, chemical and thermal stability, this oxide glass membranes have potential for the fuel cell membrane.     

Densification of Sol-Gel Thin Films by Ultraviolet and Vacuum Ultraviolet Irradiations

Structural changes in SiO₂ and TiO₂ gel films were investigated using ultraviolet (UV) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) irradiations. A significant compaction with dehydration of SiO₂ gel films was induced by irradiation of photons in the range of 9–18 eV. The refractive index and the shrinkage of the irradiated SiO₂ gel films were comparable to those obtained by sintering at 1000°C. Densification of TiO₂ gel films was also observed with irradiation of 5–14 eV photons. However, effects of the irradiation on TiO₂ gel were smaller that those on SiO₂ gel. The structural changes in the gel films are attributed to electronic excitations which are induced by irradiation with photons having higher energies than the bandgap of the oxides. The photo-induced effects are presumed to depend on the optical properties and structure of the gels.     

Effects of Heat Treatment on Photocatalytic Property of Sol-Gel Derived Polycrystalline TiO2

Polycrystalline TiO₂ in the bulk form was prepared by hydrothermal treatment of amorphous TiO₂ gel, and its photocatalytic activity for degradation of ethanol and physical properties were investigated after drying and calcination (300–650°C). The maximum photocatalytic activity reached when the polycrystalline TiO₂ was calcinated at temperatures from 300 to 500°C, which was almost the same as for a commercial TiO₂ powder. It was markedly reduced above 600°C. Photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ was affected by crystal growth of anatase, progress of sintering, anatase-rutile transformation and morphology of the polycrystalline TiO₂. It was a characteristic of the polycrystalline TiO₂ prepared in this study that the photocatalytic activity did not vary so much with the calcination temperature in the range of 300–500°C.     

Preparation and Characterization of Bismuth Doped TiO2 Thin Films

A series of Bismuth-doped titanium oxide (Bi-doped TiO₂) thin films on glass substrates have been prepared by sol-gel dip coating process. The prepared catalysts were characterized by XRD and XPS. The photocatlytic activity of the thin film catalysts was evaluated through the photodegradation of aqueous methyl orange under UV illumination. The experiments demonstrated that the Bi-doped TiO₂ prepared was anatase phase. The doped bismuth was in the 3⁺ oxidation state. The presence of Bi significantly enhanced the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ films. At calcination temperature of 500°C, with doping concentration of 2 wt %, Bi-doped TiO₂ thin film showed the highest photocatalyic activity.     

液相沉积法制备光催化活性TiO2膜

锐钛矿型TiO2薄膜;液相沉积法制备光催化活性TiO2膜     

Preparation and Formation Mechanism of Porous TiO2 Films Using PEG and Alcohol Solvent as Double-Templates

Porous nanocrystalline TiO₂ anatase thin films have been synthesized on glass substrates via a sol-gel dip-coating method. The coating sol was obtained by suppressed hydrolysis of Ti(OC₄H₉)₄ through the addition of complexing molecules as stabilizers in an alcohol solution containing polyethylene glycol (PEG). Chemical changes taking place during the sol-gel process were discussed based on IR spectra analysis. A model concerning the pore formation was established to explain the role of PEG and solvent with core-shell configuration as double-templates. The structural characteristics of porous TiO₂ films were found to greatly depend on the concentration and molecular weight of PEG, the types of stabilizing agents and solvents. The pore size of the films was tunable in the range of 10–500 nm and their surface area varied from 51 to 72 m²·g^–1.     

Preparation and Characterization of Amorphous ZrO2-SiO2 Composite Powders Processed by Sol-Gel Chemistry

Composite ZrO₂-SiO₂ powders, with different ZrO₂ contents, including pure ZrO₂ powders, were prepared by precipitation in SiO₂ suspensions, of zirconia gels from solutions of zirconyl chloride at pH = 11. These products were investigated in connection with the phase changes in ZrO₂ caused by heat-treatments. ZrO₂-SiO₂ mixtures containing 0–100% mol ZrO₂, were studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed desorption combined with mass spectroscopy (TPD-MS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), to obtain information on the morphological and structural features of the particles before and during the heat treatment up to 1200°C. Specific surface areas were determined using nitrogen adsorption by the BET method. The results offer an explanation about some of the factors which can be influencing on the stabilization of metastable-cubic/tetragonal (C/T) phase of ZrO₂ and the evolution of surface areas (vulcano profile) observed in the composites.     

Photocatalytic Oxidation of Aniline in the Gas Phase Using Porous TiO2 Thin Films

The gas-phase photocatalytic oxidation of aniline on a new kind of porous nano-TiO₂ composite films is investigated. The composite film was prepared on glass fiber with the water glass as binders and dilute H₂SO₄ solution as solidifying reagent. The surface characters were observed by scanning electron microscope. The photocatalytic degradation of aniline on the composite films was carried out in a TiO₂/UV system. Some important factors affecting the photodegradation, such as the concentration of TiO₂, the initial concentration of aniline, and the existing water vapor, are also studied. The product of photocatalytic oxidation was detected by Fourier transform-Infrared. The partial intermediate products were absorbed on TiO₂ surface, which resulted in catalyst deactivation. But when it was irradiated under UV illumination or solar irradiation for some time, the catalyst could be reused without loss of catalytic activity. Translated from the Journal of Wuhan University (Natural Science Edition), 2005, 51(2) (in Chinese)     

Optical and Conductivity Properties of PbS Nanocrystals in Amorphous Zirconia Sol-Gel Films

Lead sulfide (PbS) nanocrystals (NCs), embedded in amorphous zirconia sol-gel film with different PbS mole concentration (5–30%), were grown at temperature, ranging from 200°C to 350°C. The size of PbS NCs was determined by TEM and by blue shift of the absorption edge. The size increased with an increase of the synthesis temperature and PbS mole concentration. The optical and electrical properties of various sizes of PbS NCs in zirconia film are investigated utilizing absorption, photoluminescence (PL) and current-voltage measurement. The PL spectra were Stokes shifted from the corresponding absorption edge by about 0.5 eV. The latter can be associated with recombination process from surface state. The electrical properties were investigated by the deposition of the PbS NCs-zirconia films on ITO/glass substrate, followed by their coverage with gold contact. The current-voltage characteristics depend on the PbS NCs size and exhibits nonlinear nearly symmetric curve, associated with the space-charge limited current or the tunneling of carriers through the nanocrystalline film.     

Tuning Structural Colors of TiO2 Thin Films Using an Electrochemical Process

TiO₂ films exhibiting structural colors were successfully prepared using one-step electrochemical oxidation. Results of theoretical analyses and digital simulations revealed that the structural color of a TiO₂ thin film could be regulated by adjusting oxidation voltage and oxidation time with different oxidation voltages leading to changes in structural color annulus number. At a low oxidation voltage, each thin film exhibited a single structural color, while thin films with different structural colors were obtained by varying the oxidation time. By contrast, at a higher oxidation voltage, each film exhibited iridescent and circular structural color patterns associated with symmetrical decreases in surface oxidation current density along radial lines emanating from the film center to its outer edges. TiO₂ films exhibiting iridescent structural colorations have broad application prospects in industrial fields related to photocatalysis and photovoltaic cells.