Preparation of TiO2/SiO2 and its photocatalytic activity for degradation of dye X-3B in aqueous solution

TiO2/SiO2 thin film was prepared by repeating the following procedure, firs t dipping porous round silica gel in Ti-solution of tetrabutyl titanium eth anol containing polyethylene glycol and diethylene glycol monoethylether, t hen calcinating at 600 degreesC for 2 h. The crystal phase, the morphology, and the TiO2 amount on the beads were determined by XRD, SEM, and UV-Vis, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2/SiO2 thin film with diffe rent TiO2 loadings was evaluated by degradation of dye X-3B in aqueous solu tion. In comparison of TiO2 /SiO2 containing omega (TiO2) = 54.02% with tha t containing omega (TiO2) = 16.79%, the former has larger average particle diameter and had undergone some phase transformation from anatase to rutile , but no phase transformation had been observed for the latter. Furthermore , with 16.79%-TiO2/SiO2 as a catalyst, the degradation of dye X-3B in aqueo us solution with O-2 flow had a decolorization ratio up to 93% in 1 h.