Preparation and photocatalytic activity of TiO2 films with Ni nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of sol-gel science and technology Vol. 52; no. 2; pp. 267 - 275
• Main Authors: Ramírez-Meneses, E., García-Murillo, A., de J. Carrillo-Romo, F., García-Alamilla, R., Del Angel-Vicente, P., Ramírez-Salgado, J., Bartolo Pérez, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.11.2009; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Anatase; Atomic force microscopy; Catalytic activity; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Colloidal gels. Colloidal sols; Colloidal state and disperse state; Composites; Crystallization; Dip coatings; Ethanol; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Glass; Glass substrates; Heat treatment; Hydrogen evolution; Immersion coating; Inorganic Chemistry; Light irradiation; Materials Science; Mercury lamps; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Natural Materials; Nickel; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Paper; Photocatalysis; Photochemistry; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Physical chemistry of induced reactions (with radiations, particles and ultrasonics); Precursors; Sol-gel processes; Synthesis; Thin films; Titanium; Titanium dioxide; Transmission electron microscopy; Ultraviolet radiation; Thin films; Nanoparticles; Nickel; Organometallic; Sol–gel; Atomic force microscopy; Binary compound; High resolution; Heat treatment; Anatase; Support; Film; Hydrogen; Nanoparticle; Glass; Precursor; Thin film; Titanium; Dip coating; Diameter; Photocatalysis; Sol-gel; Transition element compounds; Crystallization; Transition metal; Nanostructure; Dienic compound; X ray diffraction; Substrate; Transmission electron microscopy; Sol gel process; Preparation; Acetic acid; Titanium oxide
• ISSN: 0928-0707; 1573-4846
• DOI: 10.1007/s10971-009-2015-1

Titania thin films were synthesized by sol–gel dip-coating method with metallic Ni nanoparticles synthesized separately from an organometallic precursor Ni(COD) 2 (COD = cycloocta-1,5-diene) in presence of 1,3-diaminopropane as a stabilizer. Titania was obtained from a titanium isopropoxide precursor solution in presence of acetic acid. A Ni/TiO 2 sol system was used to coat glass substrate spheres (6, 4 and 3 mm diameter sizes), and further heat treatment at 400 °C was carried out to promote the crystallization of titania. XRD analysis of the TiO 2 films revealed the crystallization of the anatase phase. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and High Resolution TEM studies of Ni nanoparticles before mixing with the TiO 2 solution revealed the formation of Ni nanostructures with an average size of 5–10 nm. High-angle annular dark-field images of the Ni/TiO 2 system revealed well-dispersed Ni nanoparticles supported on TiO 2 and confirmed by AFM analysis. The photocatalytic activity of the Ni/TiO 2 films was evaluated in hydrogen evolution from the decomposition of ethanol using a mercury lamp for UV light irradiation. Titania films in presence of Ni nanoparticles show higher efficiency in their photocatalytic properties in comparison with TiO 2 .