Investigating and correlating photoelectrochemical, photocatalytic, and antimicrobial properties of TiO2 nanolayers

  • Semiconducting transition metal oxides such as TiO 2 are promising photo(electro)catalysts for solar water splitting and photoreduction of CO 2 as well as for antibacterial, self-, water and air-cleaning coatings and admixtures in paints, building materials, on window glass or medical devices. In photoelectrocatalytic applications TiO 2 is usually used as photoanode only catalyzing the oxidation reaction. In coatings and admixtures TiO 2 works as heterogeneous catalyst and has to catalyze a complete redox cycle. While photoelectrochemical charge transport parameters are usually quite well accessible by electrochemical measurements, the quantitative description of photocatalytic properties is more challenging. Here, we present a systematic structural, photoelectrocatalytic, photocatalytic and antimicrobial study to understand if and how photoelectrochemical parameters can be used to predict the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2. For this purpose TiO 2 thin films on flourine-doped tin oxide substrates were prepared and annealed atSemiconducting transition metal oxides such as TiO 2 are promising photo(electro)catalysts for solar water splitting and photoreduction of CO 2 as well as for antibacterial, self-, water and air-cleaning coatings and admixtures in paints, building materials, on window glass or medical devices. In photoelectrocatalytic applications TiO 2 is usually used as photoanode only catalyzing the oxidation reaction. In coatings and admixtures TiO 2 works as heterogeneous catalyst and has to catalyze a complete redox cycle. While photoelectrochemical charge transport parameters are usually quite well accessible by electrochemical measurements, the quantitative description of photocatalytic properties is more challenging. Here, we present a systematic structural, photoelectrocatalytic, photocatalytic and antimicrobial study to understand if and how photoelectrochemical parameters can be used to predict the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2. For this purpose TiO 2 thin films on flourine-doped tin oxide substrates were prepared and annealed at temperatures between 200 and 600 ◦C. The film morphologies and thicknesses were studied by GIXRD, FESEM, and EDX. Photoelectrochemical properties were measured by linear sweep voltammetry, photoelectro-chemical impedance spectroscopy, chopped light chronoamperometry, and intensity modulated photocurrent/photovoltage spectroscopy. For comparison, photocatalytic rate constants were determined by methylene blue degradation and Escherichea coli inactivation and correlated with the deduced photoelectrocatalytic parameters. We found that the respective photoactivities of amorphous and such as charge transfer and recombination rates, charge transfer efficiencies and resistances are measured close to the open circuit potential (OCP). Hence, the interfacial charge transport parameters at the OCP can be indeed used as descriptors for predicting and understanding the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 coatings. In photoelectro-catalytic applications TiO 2 is usually used as photoanode only catalyzing the oxidation reaction. In coatings and admixtures TiO 2 works as heterogeneous catalyst and has to catalyze a complete redox cycle. While photoelectro-chemical charge transport parameters are usually quite well accessible by electrochemical measurements, the quantitative description of photocatalytic properties is more challenging. Here, we present a systematic structural, photoelectrocatalytic, photocatalytic and antimicrobial study to understand if and how photoelectrochemical parameters can be used to predict the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2. For this purpose TiO 2 thin films on flourine-doped tin oxide substrates were prepared and annealed at temperatures between 200 and 600 Celsius. The film morphologies and thicknesses were studied by GIXRD, FESEM, and EDX. Photoelectrochemical properties were measured by linear sweep voltammetry, photoelectro-chemical impedance spectroscopy, chopped light chronoamperometry, and intensity modulated photocurrent/ photovoltage spectroscopy. For comparison, photocatalytic rate constants were determined by methylene blue degradation and Escherichea coli inactivation and correlated with the deduced photoelectro-catalytic parameters. We found that the respective photoactivities of amorphous and crystalline TiO 2 nanolayers can be best correlated, if the extracted photoelectrochemical parameters such as charge transfer and recombination rates, charge transfer efficiencies and resistances are measured close to the open circuit potential (OCP). Hence, the interfacial charge transport parameters at the OCP can be indeed used as descriptors for predicting and understanding the photocatalytic activity of TiO 2 coatings.show moreshow less

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Metadaten
Author:Volker Seiß, Uta Helbig, Ralf Lösel, Maik EichelbaumORCiD
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01165-x
ISSN:2045-2322
Parent Title (English):Scientific Reports
Publisher:Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of first Publication:2021/11/12
Reviewed:Begutachtet/Reviewed
Release Date:2024/07/25
Volume:11
Issue:1
Article Number:22200
Pagenumber:16
institutes:Fakultät Werkstofftechnik
Institut für Angewandte Wasserstoffforschung, Elektro- und Thermochemische Energiesysteme (H2Ohm)
Institut für Chemie, Material- und Produktentwicklung
Fakultät für Angewandte Chemie
Research Themes:Materialien & Produktionstechnik
Licence (German):Creative Commons - CC BY - Namensnennung 4.0 International
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