研究目的
To synthesize nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalysts with high optical and structural homogeneity using dc reactive magnetron sputtering technique and study their structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties.
研究成果
Nanostructured TiO2 thin films with anatase phase were successfully synthesized using dc reactive magnetron sputtering without heat treatment. The films exhibited high structural homogeneity, an energy band gap of 3.23 eV, and an average particle size of 5–7 nm. Photocatalytic activity, measured by the degradation of methylene blue, showed a first-order reaction rate constant of 2.4 × 10?3 min?1, indicating enhanced performance compared to amorphous or rutile TiO2. This method provides a viable route for producing pure anatase nanostructures for applications in photocatalysis and optoelectronics.
研究不足
The study uses a homemade sputtering system, which may not be standardized or commercially available, potentially limiting reproducibility. Only anatase phase was produced without exploring other phases or single crystalline structures. The photocatalytic testing was limited to methylene blue degradation under UV light, not covering other pollutants or visible light applications. Optimization was done for specific conditions (e.g., gas mixing ratio of 10:10), and other parameters might yield different results.
1：Experimental Design and Method Selection:
A homemade dc closed-field unbalanced reactive magnetron sputtering system was used to deposit TiO2 thin films on glass substrates. The method was chosen for its ability to produce highly-pure anatase phase nanostructures without heat treatment, with optimized operation parameters such as inter-electrode distance, gas pressure, and mixing ratios.
2：Sample Selection and Data Sources:
Glass substrates were used for deposition. Five different mixing ratios of Ar:O2 gases (10:10, 20:10, 40:10, 50:10, and 66:10) were employed to prepare thin films with thicknesses around 50 ± 5 nm.
3：List of Experimental Equipment and Materials:
Equipment includes a homemade dc magnetron sputtering system with stainless steel electrodes, a dc power supply (max 150 W, 3 kV, 50 mA), a cooling system, a titanium target (99.99% purity from Goodfellow Cambridge, Ltd.), an Edward double-stage rotary pump, a SENTECH SE 850 Ellipsometer for thickness measurement, a Bruker D2 PHASER XRD system, a Shimadzu 8400S FTIR spectrometer, SEM, EDX, AFM, and a K-MAC SpectraAcademy SV-2100 UV–visible spectrophotometer. Materials include Ar and O2 gases, methylene blue dye, and glass substrates.
4：99% purity from Goodfellow Cambridge, Ltd.), an Edward double-stage rotary pump, a SENTECH SE 850 Ellipsometer for thickness measurement, a Bruker D2 PHASER XRD system, a Shimadzu 8400S FTIR spectrometer, SEM, EDX, AFM, and a K-MAC SpectraAcademy SV-2100 UV–visible spectrophotometer. Materials include Ar and O2 gases, methylene blue dye, and glass substrates.
Experimental Procedures and Operational Workflow:
4. Experimental Procedures and Operational Workflow: The chamber was evacuated to a base pressure of 3 × 10?2 mbar. Gas mixtures were introduced at total pressure of 7 × 10?2 mbar with flow rates of 20–50 cm3/s. Films were deposited at an inter-electrode distance of 4 cm, with cathode temperature controlled by water cooling. After deposition, samples were characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDX, AFM, and UV–visible spectroscopy. Photocatalytic activity was tested by degrading methylene blue under UV irradiation from an 18 W UV lamp.
5：Data Analysis Methods:
XRD patterns were analyzed to identify crystal phases. Energy band gap was calculated from UV–visible spectra using the Tauc plot method. FTIR spectra confirmed chemical bonds. SEM and AFM provided particle size and surface morphology. Photocatalytic degradation rate was determined by monitoring absorbance decay and calculating the first-order reaction rate constant.
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