Effect of calcination on the photocatalytic activity and stability of TiO2 photocatalysts modified with APTES

In this article, the influence of calcination temperature on the photocatalytic properties and stability of titanium dioxide modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) was presented. The new APTES-functionalized TiO2 nanomaterials were obtained by solvothermal process and thermal modification in the argon atmosphere. The obtained photocatalysts were characterized via various techniques including diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis/DRS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR/DRS), SEM, BET surface area measurement and zeta potential analyses. Modification with APTES suppressed phase transformation and the growth of crystallite size of anatase and rutile during heating. The crystallites size of anatase was in the range of 14-52 nm for heat-treated starting-TiO2 and 14-31 nm for APTES-modified TiO2. Calcination process influenced the surface characteristics i.e. zeta potential of APTES-modified TiO2 nanomaterials. The photocatalytic activity of obtained samples was investigated during the decomposition of methylene blue using as a model water contaminant under UV light irradiation. Thermal modification in the argon atmosphere significantly enhanced adsorption properties and photocatalytic activity of obtained nanomaterials. Furthermore, calcination up to 700 degrees C improved photocatalytic stability of the examined photocatalysts. It is also worth mentioning that APTES modification significantly improved photocatalytic performance of nanomaterials calcined at 900 degrees C. In this case the decomposition degree of TiO2-4h-180 degrees C-2000 mM-Ar-900 degrees C in comparison to TiO2-Ar-900 degrees C increased by 50 %.

Automated summary

This article examines the influence of calcination temperature on the photocatalytic properties and stability of titanium dioxide modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES).