Hydrophilic and photocatalytic properties of dip-coated synthetic rutile-based thin films derived from minerals ores

Abstract

This article focuses on the investigation of hydrophilic property and photocatalytic activity of synthetic rutile-based thin films prepared by conventional dip coating method. The synthetic rutile was prepared by chloride leaching process for purification of synthetic rutile from mineral ores and was coated on glass substrate with binder for several times to reach designated thickness. UV-Visible spectroscopy technique was employed to study relevant optical properties meanwhile the crystalline structure of synthetic rutile-based thin films was characterized by X-ray diffraction. Surface morphologies of the coated films were monitored by scanning electron microscope while hydrophilic property was observed by contact angle measurement. Photocytalytic activity was evaluated by mean of the degradation of organic dye Rhonamine B under ultraviolet light and visible light. The improvement of photocatalytic efficiency was obtained by synthetic rutile-based thin film under visible irradiation compared with reference film without leached phtocatalyst.