A Comparison Study of Photocatalytic Performance of TiO2 Anatase Phase Prepared from Different Procedures

Abstract

In this work, three TiO₂ anatase phase samples, labeled as S1, S2, and S3, were synthesized using varying titanium precursors, solvents, and conditions to compare their photocatalytic performances. The structural and morphological properties of the synthesized samples were characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman scattering, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The obtained results indicated that all samples exhibited an anatase crystalline phase. Sample S1 notably featured nanowires with an average diameter of 38.6 nm. Meanwhile, samples S2 and S3 comprised nanoparticles, each exhibiting unique average sizes of 12.76 nm and 10.11 nm, respectively. The diffuse reflectance spectra reveal that the S3 sample possesses the lowest bandgap, suggesting its potential as the most promising photocatalyst. Additionally, photocurrent response and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were characterized to elucidate the charge transfer mechanisms within the materials. The degradation efficiencies of Rhodamine B (RhB) for samples S1, S2, and S3 were determined to be 17.40%, 17.93%, and 33.04%, respectively, under visible light irradiation. This study provides valuable insights into the criteria for choosing efficient TiO₂ photocatalysts.