Photocatalytic activities under UV light of ball-milled TiO2photocatalysts

Abstract

Anatase TiO2 powders used as photocatalysts were prepared by ball milling process at various milling time and annealed in nitrogen atmosphereat different temperatures. Commercial TiO2 powders were ball-milled with ethanol at room temperature. After ball milling process, the samples were annealed in nitrogen atmosphere. The particle sizes and surface area of milled powders were measured by particle analyzer and Brunauer Emmet Teller method(BET). Effect of milling time and annealing temperature on structural properties of TiO2 powders was investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD) and scanning electron microscope(SEM). The degradation of aquous RhB dye by ball-milled TiO2 powder photocatalyst was investigated under UV light irradiation. Comparing to P-25, TiO2 powder prepared via ball milling process at 24 hr demonstrated significant enhancement in its photocatalytic activity under UV light due to the increasing active surface area after ball milling process. © (2013) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland.