Microstructuring of Mesoporous Titania Films Loaded with Silver Salts to Enhance the Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Blue under Visible Light

Abstract

The microstructuring of the distribution of silver nanoparticles (NPs) in mesoporous titania films loaded with silver salts, using two-beam interference lithography leading to 1 Dimension (1D) grating, induces variations in the photocatalytic efficiency. The influence of the structuration was tested on the degradation of methyl blue (MB) under ultraviolet (UV) and visible illumination, giving rise to a significant improvement of the photocatalytic efficiency. The periodic distribution of the NPs was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Influence of the Micro-Nanostructuring of Titanium Dioxide Films on the Photocatalytic Degradation of Formic Acid under UV Illumination

“…The advantages of depositing TiO 2 coatings in the form of thin films have been demonstrated in many fields, including energy [ 11 ], photocatalysis [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ], electronics [ 18 , 19 ], health [ 20 ], and optics [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Additionally, the coatings can be micro-nanostructured, thereby giving them new functionalities and properties, e.g., improved absorption efficiency [ 24 ], hydrophobicity and enhanced tribological properties [ 25 ].…”

ZnO- and TiO2-Based Nanostructures

“…The study of the photodynamic activity of N-doped TiO 2 nanoparticles conjugated with aluminum phthalocyanine is reported by Pan et al [ 15 ] Li and coworkers investigate the photoelectrochemical water splitting properties of Ti-Ni-Si-O nanostructures grown on Ti-Ni-Si alloy substrate [ 16 ]. The visible light response of mesoporous titania films loaded with silver salts is reported by Crespo-Monteiro et al [ 17 ] for the degradation of methyl blue.…”

Preparation of Aminated Sodium Lignosulfonate and Efficient Adsorption of Methyl Blue Dye

“…Therefore, the content of dyes should be eliminated or minimized as much as possible ahead of the dye wastewater being discharged into water bodies. Now, many techniques have been developed and widely applied to solve such water pollution caused by dyes, including membrane separation, chemical oxidation, biodegradation, photocatalysis and adsorption [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Adsorption turns out to be one of the most appealing methods among them due to its rather easy operation, low cost, straightforward design and lack of secondary contamination [ 11 , 12 ].…”