Synthesis of Tio2 by Solvothermal Method and Its Photocatalytic Activity Towards Biseptol and Congo Red

Abstract

The creation of ceramic membranes with additional functional properties, such as antibacterial and photocatalytic, is a popular and promising area of research in the field of water treatment. The article is devoted to the synthesis of titanium (IV) oxide powders by the solvothermal method for their further usage as a photocatalytic selective layer in ceramic membranes. The study of the peculiarities of the photocatalytic materials synthesis for the creation of photocatalytic and at the same time antimicrobial ceramic membranes on their basis is extremely relevant, because it will allow to develop a method of synthesis of photocatalysts active to various pollutants. Therefore, the aim of the work was the synthesis of TiO2 powders by solvothermal method at different ratios of the starting reagents, the study of their physicochemical properties and the study of their photocatalytic properties in relation to different pollutant – antibiotics and dyes. The obtained powders were characterized by diffraction analysis, infrared spectroscopy, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption and scanning electron microscopy. It is established that the ratio of the initial components significantly affects the final properties and characteristics of TiO2 powders. It was shown that the synthesis with a significant excess of the starting reagent (titanium isopropoxide) does not lead to the crystalline TiO2 sample, which was confirmed by diffraction analysis and infrared spectroscopy. The revealed porous structure of all TiO2 samples indicates a high specific surface area in them, which is also consistent with scanning electron microscopy studies. The highest photocatalytic activity is possessed by TiO2 samples, which are nanocomposites of anatase and rutile modifications. Such nanocomposites showed quite high activity towards antibiotics (Biseptol) and anionic dyes (Congo red).