Water-Based Photocatalytic Sol–Gel TiO2 Coatings: Synthesis and Durability

The environmental impact of industrial technologies and related remediation methods are major research trend lines. Unfortunately, in the development materials for wastewater treatment or air purification, hazardous reactants often employed, reducing overall beneficial contribution such technology on environment. We here synthesize stable titanium dioxide (TiO2) sols using a green route, with tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) as precursor, water solvent acetic acid acting catalyst, chelating agent peptizing agent. sol was deposited glass by dip-coating then analyzed XRD, SEM spectrophotometry. Wastewater purification ability evaluated photocatalytic degradation two organic dyes (Rhodamine B Methylene Blue). Results RhB showed > 85% 6 h maintained along series 7 tests, confirming good efficiency reusability, 100% 3 MB; mostly depended calcination temperature layer thickness. High photodegradation found nonannealed samples, suggesting TiO2 nanoparticles crystallization during sol–gel production. Yet, samples gradual decrease photoactivity repeated probably due to partial release particles solution, while calcined adhesion obtained, leading more durable photoactive layer.