Photodecomposition of Rhodamine B on TiO2/SiO2 thin films prepared by sol-gel method

Glasses showing catalytic effect have been of much interest recently because the catalytic layer is very effective in reducing of pollutants. The use of these glasses may bring reduction in cleaning costs. There are several methods of preparation of TiO2 with good catalytic properties, but sol-gel technique offers an opportunity to enhance catalytic effect by precise optimization of the composition and microstructure of the layer. This study concerns optimization of the composition and preparation technology of catalytic layers based on SiO2-TiO2 system. Catalytic effect was studied using Rhodamine B as a sensor. UV-VIS and photoelectron spectroscopy were the main research tools used in this study.