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Effect of heating rate on structure, morphology and photocatalytic properties of TiO2 particles: thermal kinetic and thermodynamic studies

  • Original Paper: Sol-gel and hybrid materials for catalytic, photoelectrochemical and sensor applications
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A Correction to this article was published on 05 May 2021

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Abstract

In this study, TiO2 powders were produced via sol–gel route at 500 °C for 2 h with distinct heating rates. TGA-DTA, XRD, SEM, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, UV–vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence characterization techniques were carried out for TiO2 powders. Photocatalytic efficiency of TiO2 powders on degradation of methylene blue (MB) solution was examined in terms of different heating rates. Thermodynamic and non-isothermal kinetic study of TiO2 powders were estimated. TiO2 powders showed anatase phase based on XRD results. Surface morphology of TiO2 powders did not change with different heating rates. It can be concluded that heating rate played important role on band gap and photocatalytic activity. The band gap of the TiO2 particles decreased from 3.25 to 2.95 with increasing heating rate. The photocatalytic activity results exhibit that T1 powders have the highest photocatalytic performances. The kinetic constant and photocatalytic degradation rate were 0.00678 min−1 and 83.48%, respectively. This could be attributed to high crystalline structure and low bulk vacancies or defects. Furthermore, TiO2 powders showed good stability. This study exhibited a new way to enhance the photocatalytic performances of pure TiO2 powders.

Highlights

  • TiO2 powders were fabricated by sol–gel process at various heating rate regime.

  • Effect of the heating rate on structure, morphology and photocatalytic properties was investigated.

  • Non-isothermal and thermodynamic parameters of TiO2 powders were studied.

  • T1 sample exhibited the excellent photocatalytic efficiency.

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Acknowledgements

We are indebted to Marmara University, Dokuz Eylul University and Katip Çelebi University for infrastructural support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dokuz Eylul University, Torbalı Vocational School, Welding Technology Department, Torbalı, 35860, Izmir, Turkey

    Tuncay Dikici

  2. Marmara University, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Kadikoy, 34722, Istanbul, Turkey

    Selim Demirci & Mehmet Masum Tünçay

  3. Marmara University, Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, Kadikoy, 34722, Istanbul, Turkey

    Selim Demirci

  4. Marmara University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Kadikoy, 34722, Istanbul, Turkey

    Bercem Kiran Yildirim

  5. Katip Çelebi University, Central Research Laboratories Application and Research Center, 35620, Çiğli, Izmir, Turkey

    Nusret Kaya

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  1. Tuncay Dikici
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Dikici, T., Demirci, S., Tünçay, M.M. et al. Effect of heating rate on structure, morphology and photocatalytic properties of TiO2 particles: thermal kinetic and thermodynamic studies. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 97, 622–637 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-020-05466-x

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