Formation of nano-thin TiO2 layer on ceramic support and study the photocatalytic properties

Nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films were fabricated on tubular alumina ceramic support by sol-gel spraying method. The crystalline structure and morphology of the synthesized nano-TiO2 were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), respectively. The adsorptive and photocatalytic activities of the deposited nano-TiO2 films with different number of layers were evaluated by removal of acetaldehyde in air under UV irradiation. The XRD patterns demonstrated that the nano-TiO2 films were well synthesized and crystallized consisting anatase and rutile, with (101) and (110) planes, respectively. The average crystallite size was determined 16.3 nm using Scherrer equation. The SEM images showed that the coated nano-TiO2 thin films by spraying sol solution were less agglomerated and more uniform compared to the TiO2 synthesized powders. Increasing the number of coated layers enhanced the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 in acetaldehyde decomposition.