The Effect of thickness parameter and Fluorine Dopant on Photocatalytic performance of TiO2 thin films

In this study, Pure and doped titania sols with Fluorine (F/Ti:0.06) dopant, were prepared by sol-gel method and Ammonium Fluoride(NH4F) as the precursor. They were deposited on glass substrates (soda lime) in a certain(optimum) nanometric thickness by the dip coating method. Coated samples were dried and calcined under the specific rate. Phase composition and optical properties of coatings were characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Diffuse Reflection Spectroscopy (DRS). The thickness and microstructure of coatings were studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and the photocatalytic activity of the coatings was measured through their ability to degrade methylene blue and rhodamine B solution under UV and visible radiation. The results showed that the optimum thickness for Titania coatings was 308 nanometers. Moreover, F-doped titania samples degraded methylene blue 56% more than pure titania after 2 hours and exhibited better photocatalytic performance under UV radiation. This enhancement was due to reduction in particle size and formation of more homogeneous microstructures by using Fluorine as a dopant . However, after doping fluorine dopants, there was no significant variation in TiO2 bandgap energy.