Analyze photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using TiO₂ deposited onto conductive and non-conductive substrates under UV-C light

Abstract

Degradation of methylene blue has been extensively studied by using TiO2 thin film as photocatalyst deposited onto non-conductive substrates. In this research, we proposed to utilize TiO2 thin film deposited onto conductive substrate, i.e., PCB. We compared concentration degradation between TiO2 thin film deposited onto conductive and non-conductive substrates. In this study, a photocatalysis process was carried out to decompose methylene blue pollutants. This research aims to obtain the performance of TiO2 photocatalyst coated with spray coating method on conductive and non-conductive substrates using UV-C light. This research begins with the manufacture of photocatalysis reactor, manufacture and coating of substrate, manufacture of methylene blue solution, concentration calculation. In this study, two types of thin layer substrates were made using the spray coating method. The first substrate is made using acrylic material as a non-conductive substrate, the second material uses a conductive substrate, PCB. The results shows that concentration of conductive and non-conductive substrates decreases 51% and 33,3 %, respectively. Therefore, conductive substrate may increase photocatalytic process. The use of substrates that are conductors can conduct electrons well, so that when interacting with TiO2, electrons generated by the photocatalysis process can move more easily. Acrylic and PCB materials are distinguished based on the ability to conduct electricity. Acrylic as an insulator and PCB acts as a conductor substrate.