Structural and photocatalytic insights into anatase TiO2 nanostructure for dye degradation

Abstract

TiO2 nanostructures are synthesized through Sol-gel method using titanium tetracypropoxide (TTIP) as the precursor. Acetic acid is used as chelating and peptizing agent and the deionized water as a solvent the prepared gels are deposited on glass substrates through dip-coating and subjected to controlled temperatures calcinations. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used to characterize the obtained materials structurally morphologically. The findings indicated the dominance of the anatase phase with crystallites sizes of nanometers. Although SEM analysis showed a network such as a nanostructure of the particles that are less than 100 nm. To assess the possible environment application. Photocatalytic activity of the synthesized TiO 2 films is studied by observing the decomposition of the methylene blue (MB) dye under Uv. The findings had shown that the Sol-gel prepared TiO2 displays good photocatalytic behavior. Where the calcine sample had a dye degradation greater than 80% with the reaction time of 120 minutes. The increased performance is due to better crystallinity and preponderance of anatase phase as compared to lower activity in the noncalcine sample. This observation proves the point. Therefore, Sol gel approach is a
simple and effective route to the production of TiO2 nanostructures, which can be used in the purification of wastewater.