| Title: | Improved photocatalytic activity of SnO[sub]2-TiO[sub]2 nanocomposite thin films prepared by low-temperature sol-gel method |
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| Authors: | ID Maver, Ksenija (Author)
ID Arčon, Iztok (Author)
ID Fanetti, Mattia (Author)
ID Al Jitan, Samar (Author)
ID Palmisano, Giovanni (Author)
ID Valant, Matjaž (Author)
ID Lavrenčič Štangar, Urška (Author) |
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| Files: |
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| Language: | English |
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| Work type: | Unknown |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: | UNG - University of Nova Gorica
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| Abstract: | The objective of this research was to investigate how the photocatalytic activity of pure TiO2 can be improved by
SnO2 modification. Different molar ratios of tin to titanium were prepared. The correlation between tin concentration
and structural properties was investigated to explain the mechanism of photocatalytic efficiency and
to optimize the synthesis conditions to obtain enhanced activity of the SnO2-modified TiO2 photocatalysts under
UV-irradiation. The SnO2-modified TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by a low-temperature sol-gel method
based on organic tin and titanium precursors. The precursors underwent sol-gel reactions separately to form
SnO2-TiO2 sol. The sol-gels were deposited on a glass substrate by a dip-coating technique and dried at 150 ◦C to
obtain the photocatalysts in the form of a thin film. To test the thermal stability of the material, an additional set
of photocatalysts was prepared by calcining the dried samples in air at 500 ◦C. The photocatalytic activity of the
samples was determined by measuring the degradation rate of an azo dye. An increase of up to 30% in the
photocatalytic activity of the air-dried samples was obtained when the TiO2 was modified with the SnO2 in a
concentration range of 0.1–1 mol.%. At higher SnO2 loadings, the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst
was reduced compared to the unmodified TiO2. The calcined samples showed an overall reduced photocatalytic
activity compared to the air-dried samples. Various characterization techniques (UV-Vis, XRD, N2-physisorption,
TEM, EDX, SEM, XAS and photoelectrochemical characterization) were used to explain the mechanism for the
enhanced and hindered photocatalytic performances of the SnO2-modified TiO2 photocatalysts. The results
showed that the nanocrystalline cassiterite SnO2 is attached to the TiO2 nanocrystallites through the Sn-O-Ti
bonds. In this way, the coupling of two semiconductors, SnO2 and TiO2, was demonstrated. Compared to
single-phase photocatalysts, the coupling of semiconductors has a beneficial effect on the separation of charge
carriers, which prolongs their lifetime for accessibility to participate in the redox reactions. The maximum increase
in activity of the thin films was achieved in the low concentration range (0.1–1 mol.%), which means that
an optimal ratio and contact of the two phases is achieved for the given physical parameters such as particle size,
shape and specific surface area of the catalyst. |
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| Keywords: | photocatalytic activity, Sn-modified TiO2, low-temperature, thin films, XAS analysis |
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| Year of publishing: | 2021 |
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| Number of pages: | Str. 1-10 |
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| Numbering: | 376 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/RUNG-6621 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 69207043 |
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| UDC: | 54 |
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| ISSN on article: | 0920-5861 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.cattod.2021.06.018 |
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| NUK URN: | URN:SI:UNG:REP:BLSSLEQC |
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| Publication date in RUNG: | 05.07.2021 |
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| Views: | 2460 |
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| Downloads: | 0 |
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