Catalytic and Optical Properties of TiO2 Photoactive Nanopaper Prepared by Using the Wet-End Papermaking Technique

Bicrystalline nanosized titania (TiO2) photoactive nanopapers were prepared using natural zeolite microparticle papermaking system and investigated their optical properties and photocatalysis. TiO2 nanopowder incorporated in photoactive paper has been prepared from sol-gel derived colloidal nanoparticles and crystalline phases have been modulated by heat treatment. Six different crystallite fractions of anatase and rutile phase were examined in this study. Opacity and brightness of as-prepared photoactive composite sheets were tested for the optical properties. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by toluene degradation using gas chromatography (GC). All measurements were compared as a function of rutile ratio of TiO2 included in photocatalytic papers. The results showed that there is an optimal range of anatase and rutile crystalline phases that provides better optical properties and photocatalytic activity. The optimal ratio of the two TiO2 phases falls between 0.29 anatase/0.71 rutile and 0.65 anatase/0.35 rutile.