OBTENTION OF POROUS TITANIUM DIOXIDE COATINGS BY ANODIC OXIDATION FOR PHOTOCATALYTIC APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Titanium dioxide is one of the most used materials in heterogeneous photocatalysis process due its low cost, low toxicity and high photocatalytic activity. In the present work, porous TiO2 coatings are obtained by anodic oxidation, starting at constant current density and continuing at constant potential of 120 V in spark discharge conditions. After the oxidation, the coatings received a thermal treatment. The studied variable was the current density. The curves of current density and potential showed characteristics fluctuations of spark discharge. Micrographs of the oxides showed an average pore diameter of 100 nm. Diffractograms showed, in all cases, the presence of the anatase and rutile phases of TiO2, showing an increase of the rutile fraction when the current density was higher. The synthesized oxides showed favorable characteristics as potential materials for heterogeneous catalysis processes for water treatment.

Keywords

• titanium dioxide
• water treatments
• sulphuric acid
• heterogeneous photocatalysis