Photocatalytic performance of ball-milled anatase/rutile mixed phase TiO2 composite powders

Abstract

Mixed-phase anatase/rutile titanium dioxide (TiO2) composite powder is an important material due to the unique properties of photocatalytic activity, which the photocatalytic efficiency of mixed-phase is higher than the only single anatase or rutile phase. In this study, the anatase/rutile mixed phase TiO2 composite powders were prepared by ball milling of TiO2 commercial grade powders. Effect of the anatase/rutile phase ratio on photocatalytic performance was investigated. The sample phase ratio is evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) meanwhile the composite morphology is characterized using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The overall results revealed that the mixed-phase anatase/rutile provided significant enhancement in photocatalytic performance compared with only anatase or rutile single phase. In addition, this ballmilling technique is considered an effective process, cost-effectively on energy saving, and suitable for preparing anatase/rutile TiO2 mixed-phase for photocatalytic application.