Optimization and comparative evaluation of optical and photocatalytic properties of TiO2 thin films prepared via sol–gel method

Abstract

Please cite this article as: Mohd. Danish, S. Ambreen, A. Chauhan, A. Pandey, Optimization and comparative evaluation of optical and photocatalytic properties of TiO 2 thin films prepared via sol-gel method, Journal of Saudi Chemical Society (2015), doi: http://dx. Abstract:TiO 2 thin films were fabricated with optimization of the synthesis parameters for efficient photocatalysis. The films were sculptured from gels obtained from Ti(O i Pr) 4 and Ti(OBu s ) 4 via spin coating at different rotation speed ranging from 1000 rpm to 3000 rpm. Thicknesses of the films were in the range of ≈ 112 nm to ≈ 160 nm. The X-ray diffractograms showed a phase transformation from anatase to rutile along with increase in average crystallite size from 11 nm to 18 nm with decrease in thickness of the films.Refractive index (n) values of the films were in the range of 2.50 to 3.45 while extinction coefficient (k) values ranged from 0.090 to 0.860. These films were transparent with high transmittance (T ≤ 95%) in the visible region. The optical band gaps for films were calculated to be in the range of 3.00 eV to 3.95 eV. Photocatalytic degradations of methylene blue by the fabricated TiO 2 thin films has also been investigated.Introduction:

One step hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2 with variable HCl concentration: Detailed characterization and photocatalytic activity in propene oxidation

“…TiO2 photocatalysts show outstanding properties like excellent oxidative capability, chemical stability, low price, non-toxicity and biocompatibility [4][5][6]. For this reason, an intense research is being devoted to develop simple and suitable synthesis methods to obtain TiO2 with improved photocatalytic efficiency, and to broaden the knowledge of how the physical and chemical properties of TiO2 determine its photocatalytic activity [7][8][9][10][11].…”

Rapid and economic fabrication approach of dielectric reflectors for energy harvesting applications

“…It is instead to say that the refractive index is influenced by the composition of the film, for example, the amorphous film has lower refractive index value as compared to a crystalline film which possesses higher value 28 . In the same fashion, Danish et al reported the increased refractive index value from 2.7 to 3.2 due to the improved crystallite size 29 . Likewise, we can observe the improved crystallinity of the film, which resembles the increased crystallite size, as shown in Fig.…”

Spin Coating Immobilisation of C-N-TiO2 Co-Doped Nano Catalyst on Glass and Application for Photocatalysis or as Electron Transporting Layer for Perovskite Solar Cells

“…The highest (15.42%) O.II decoloration was reached after 60 minutes of UV-Vis exposure at a 3:5 sol gel to the solvent ratio. This then decreased to 12.67 and 12.83%, and hence became constant [40][41][42]. This indicated that at 60 minutes of reaction time, the supports coated with 3:5 sol gel to solvent ratio reached maximum UV-light absorption and the samples were stable in O.II acidic medium.…”

“…The film thickness-related photocatalytic activities were assessed by Danish et al [41] upon the degradation of the methylene blue (MB) dye observed. The outcomes of their study showed that the removal percentage of MB decreased with a decrease in film thickness.…”