Original Article | 2010, Vol.32, No.4, pp. 413-412
Photoactivity and hydrophilic property of SiO2 and SnO2 co-doped TiO2 nano-composite thin films
Lek Sikong, Kalayanee Kooptarnond, Sutham Niyomwas and Jiraporn Damchan
pp. 413 - 412
Abstract
SiO2 and SnO2 co-doped TiO2 nano-composite thin films were prepared by sol-gel method. The effects of film thickness and amount of SiO2 and SnO2 co-doping into TiO2 nano-composite films on phase presence, crystallite size, photocatalytic reaction and hydrophilicity were investigated. Thickness of 3-coating layers (238 nm) seems to provide the highest photocatalytic activity. The crystallinity of anatase phases, crystallite sizes and photocatalytic reactions of SiO2 and SnO2 co-doped TiO2 films decrease with an increase in SiO2 content. It was found that more amount of SiO2 addition seems to inhibit grain growth and the formation of anatase phase; especially when it was synthesized at temperature less than 600°C. The photocatalytic reaction seems to decrease with an increase in SiO2 doping when the concentrations of SnO2 in the composite films are fixed. It was apparent that 1SiO2 /1SnO2 /TiO2 composite film exhibits the highest photoactivity. Suitable amounts of SiO2 and SnO2 doping into the TiO2 composite films tend to enhance the hydrophilic property of the films. It was also apparent that the 3SiO2 /3SnO2 /TiO2 , 5SiO2 /5SnO2 /TiO2 and 10SiO2 /3SnO2 /TiO2 composite films exhibit super hydrophilic characteristics under UV irradiation for 30 min.
