Preparation and gaseous photocatalytic activity of smooth potassium dititanate film

Abstract

A new smooth potassium dititanate film was prepared by sol-gel method and characterized by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-Visible diffuse reflectance and Raman spectroscopy. The gaseous photocatalytic activity of smooth K 2 Ti 2 O 5 films was studied using contact angle analysis from the photocatalytic decomposition of octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) based self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed on K 2 Ti 2 O 5 films. The photocurrent response of the film was determined by an electrochemical method. It was shown that the films were smooth, compact, and transparent when formed on glass. Compared with TiO 2 film, the K 2 Ti 2 O 5 film showed wide absorption in the ultraviolet and visible region. It was found that the monolayers on K 2 Ti 2 O 5 decomposed much faster than those on TiO 2 under UV irradiation of 254 nm in air. The film also exhibited a stronger photoresponse and a more stable anodic photocurrent. The K 2 Ti 2 O 5 film efficiently decomposes the alkylsiloxane monolayers under UV irradiation in air and it was found to be a good photocatalyst for gaseous organic pollutant treatment.

Structure, Properties, Preparation, and Application of Layered Titanates

“…Compared with the high-temperature solid-state process, the sol–gel method effectively reduces the reaction temperature and increases the specific surface area of the material, and the obtained products have the advantages of good uniformity, small average particle size, and high purity. − Therefore, layered titanates, such as K 2 Ti 4 O 9 , , and Na 2 Ti 3 O 7 , were prepared by the sol–gel method. However, the organic alkoxide used in this method is expensive, the production cost is relatively high, and some additives and organic solvents used are toxic, which can cause harm and pollution to the human body and environment, thereby affecting its industrialization process and production.…”