<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Titanium dioxide thin films doped with the same amount of neodymium were prepared using two different magnetron sputtering methods. Thin films of anatase structure were deposited with the aid of Low Pressure Hot Target Magnetron Sputtering, while rutile coatings were manufactured using High Energy Reactive Magnetron Sputtering process. The thin films composition was determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy and the amount of the dopant was equal to 1 at. %. Structural properties were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy and revealed that anatase films had fibrous structure, while rutile had densely packed columnar structure. Atomic force microscopy investigations showed that the surface of both films was homogenous and consisted of nanocrystalline grains. Photocatalytic activity was assessed based on the phenol decomposition. Results showed that both thin films were photocatalytically active, however coating with anatase phase decomposed higher amount of phenol. The transparency of both thin films was high and equal to ca. 80% in the visible wavelength range. The photoluminescence intensity was much higher in case of the coating with rutile structure.</p></abstract>

Titanium dioxide thin films doped with the same amount of neodymium were prepared using two different magnetron sputtering methods. Thin films of anatase structure were deposited with the aid of Low Pressure Hot Target Magnetron Sputtering, while rutile coatings were manufactured using High Energy Reactive Magnetron Sputtering process. The thin films composition was determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy and the amount of the dopant was equal to 1 at. %. Structural properties were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy and revealed that anatase films had fibrous structure, while rutile had densely packed columnar structure. Atomic force microscopy investigations showed that the surface of both films was homogenous and consisted of nanocrystalline grains. Photocatalytic activity was assessed based on the phenol decomposition. Results showed that both thin films were photocatalytically active, however coating with anatase phase decomposed higher amount of phenol. The transparency of both thin films was high and equal to ca. 80% in the visible wavelength range. The photoluminescence intensity was much higher in case of the coating with rutile structure.

Influence of the structural and surface properties on photocatalytic activity of TiO<sub>2</sub>:Nd thin films

Wroclaw University of Technology, Faculty of Microsystem Electronics and Photonics, Janiszewskiego 11/17, 50-372 Wroclaw, Poland

Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science, Reymonta 25, 30-059 Cracov, Poland

Polish Journal of Chemical Technology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Influence of the structural and surface properties on photocatalytic activity of TiO:Nd thin films

Titanium dioxide thin films doped with the same amount of neodymium were prepared using two different magnetron sputtering methods. Thin films of anatase...

Influence of the structural and surface properties on photocatalytic activity of TiO₂:Nd thin films

Published Online: Jun 09, 2015

Page range: 103 - 111

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/pjct-2015-0037

Keywords
TiO2, neodymium, thin films, magnetron sputtering, photocatalysis, phenol decomposition

© by Michał Mazur

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Influence of the structural and surface properties on photocatalytic activity of TiO2:Nd thin films

Published Online: Jun 09, 2015

Page range: 103 - 111

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/pjct-2015-0037

KeywordsTiO2, neodymium, thin films, magnetron sputtering, photocatalysis, phenol decomposition

© by Michał Mazur

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Influence of the structural and surface properties on photocatalytic activity of TiO₂:Nd thin films

Keywords
TiO2, neodymium, thin films, magnetron sputtering, photocatalysis, phenol decomposition