Enhanced Photoelectrocatalytic Degradation Activity of Titanium Dioxide Photoelectrode: Effect of Film Thickness

Abstract

The present work reports synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films deposited from ethanolic titanium diisopropoxide bis-acetyl acetonate precursor solution by using spray pyrolysis technique. The deposition of films were carried out on both amorphous and fluorine doped tin oxide (F:SnO₂) glasses. The effect of film thickness on photoelectrochemical, structural, morphological and optical properties of TiO₂ thin films was studied. The photoelectrochemical performance showed highest short circuit current and open circuit voltage at the optimized thickness of the film of 0.921 μm. X-ray diffraction study revealed that the films are polycrystalline, and exhibit anatase phase having tetragonal crystal structure. The TiO₂ electrodes deposited on fluorine-doped substrates were further used in the photoelectrochemical degradation of pollutants such as Methylene blue dye and benzoic acid. The degradation efficiencies were found to be 76 and 55% for the dye and benzoic acid, respectively.