Fabrication and Photocatalytic Activity of Ag/TiO2 Powder Immobilized TiO2 Thin Film in Methyl Orange Mineralization

Abstract

TiO₂ thin film and Ag/TiO₂ powder immobilized TiO₂ thin film were synthesized by dip-coating technique on glass substrate. Fabricated thin films were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Photocatalytic activities of the films were evaluated by the decomposition reaction of methyl orange under UV radiation according to the first-order rate constant k. The experimental results indicated that the initial concentration of the dye solution influenced the decolourization of azo dye methyl orange and the addition of catalyst powder into the TiO₂ sol improved the efficiency of the photocatalytic process of pure TiO₂ thin film. The mineralization of methyl orange was confirmed by chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) measurements.