Columnar TiO2 Thin Films Decorated with Cu Nanoclusters Prepared by Photocatalytic Deposition for Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance under UV Illumination

Year 2023, Volume: 13 Issue: 2, 382 - 397, 15.06.2023

Salih Veziroglu

https://doi.org/10.31466/kfbd.1214065

Abstract

TiO2 photocatalyst is a promising material for different kinds of applications, including air and water purification, hydrogen production, and self-clean surfaces. It is usually combined with other materials to improve its charge separation as well as its activation under solar illumination. However, using such an approach is not suitable for practical photocatalytic applications because noble metals are too expensive. Therefore, cost-effective metals (e.g., copper, nickel, etc.) should be also considered instead of noble metals. In this study, we prepared photocatalytically active TiO2 thin films decorated with copper (Cu) nanoclusters (NCs) to improve the charge separation. Here, the metallic Cu NCs were deposited on TiO2 thin surface by a photocatalytic deposition process (under ultraviolet (UV) illumination). The morphology, size, and surface coverage of Cu NCs on TiO2 were varied by controlling the UV illumination time. Results showed that the optimum surface coverage (3.04 %) leads to a remarkable increase in photocatalytic performance compared to bare TiO2. However, depositing more Cu NCs with bigger sizes and higher surface coverage (7.08 %) decreased the overall photocatalytic activity. This might be due to the blocking of UV light incoming to the TiO2 thin film by bigger Cu NCs on the surface. The presented Cu-TiO2 hybrid system would be a good alternative to conventional co-catalyst systems which are composed of expensive metals (Au, Ag, Pt, etc.) and TiO2 structures.

Keywords

photocatalyst, TiO2, thin film, Cu, nanoclusters, photocatalytic deposition

UV Aydınlatma Altında Gelişmiş Fotokatalitik Performans için Fotokatalitik Biriktirme ile Hazırlanan Cu Nanokümelerle Süslenmiş Sütunlu TiO2 İnce Filmler

Abstract

Fotokatalizör TiO2, hava ve su arıtma, hidrojen üretimi ve kendi kendini temizleyen yüzeyler dahil olmak üzere farklı uygulama türleri için umut verici bir malzemedir. Genellikle yük ayrımını ve güneş ışığı altında aktivasyonunu iyileştirmek için soy metaller ile birleştirilir. Ancak, bu yöntem kullanılan soy metallerin çok pahalı olmalarından dolayı pratik fotokatalitik uygulamalar için uygun değildir. Bu çalışmada, bakır (Cu) nanokümeleri (NK) ile süslenmiş fotokatalitik olarak aktif TiO2 ince filmler hazırlanmıştır. Burada, metalik Cu NC'ler TiO2 ince yüzeyi üzerine fotokatalitik biriktirme (ultraviyole (UV) aydınlatma altında) işlemi ile biriktirilmiştir. TiO2 üzerindeki Cu NK'lerin morfolojisi ve yüzey kaplaması UV aydınlatma süresi değiştirilerek edilerek kontrol edilmiştir. Sonuçlar, optimum yüzey kaplamasının (%3,04) çıplak TiO2'ye kıyasla fotokatalitik aktivitede önemli bir artışa yol açtığını göstermiştir. Bununla birlikte, daha büyük boyutlara ve daha yüksek yüzey kaplamasına (%7,08) sahip daha fazla Cu NK biriktirmek genel fotokatalitik aktiviteyi azaltmaktadır. Bunun nedeni, TiO2 ince filmine gelen UV ışığının yüzeydeki daha büyük Cu NK'ler tarafından engellenmesi olabilir. Cu-TiO2 hibrit sistemi, pahalı metaller (Au, Ag, Pt, vb.) ve TiO2 yapılarından oluşan geleneksel eş katalizör sistemlerine iyi bir alternatif olabilir.

Keywords

fotokatalizör, TiO2, ince film, Cu, nanokümeler, fotokatalitik biriktirme

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