Title:Photoelectrode FTO/ Anodized TiO2 Production and Characterization
for Methylene Blue Affected Photoelectrochemical Decomposition
Volume: 17
Issue: 2
Author(s): Berrak Caliskan*, Enes Şayan and Hakan Kiziltas
Affiliation:
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Atatürk University, Erzurum,
Turkey
Keywords:
Anodization, electrocatalytic, FTO, photocatalytic, photoelectrocatalytic, magnetic sputtering, methylene blue, TiO2.
Abstract:
Background: The production of thin film TiO2 nanostructured systems for electrocatalytic,
photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic applications has been an essential
topic in recent years. Due to the light-sensitive effect of TiO2, it can be produced by various
methods and used as a photoelectrode to remove dye. Using magnetron sputtering, Ti
thin films can be deposited on different substrates and converted into transparent TiO2
structures by electrochemical anodization.
Methods: In this study, the thin Ti film was produced using a magnetic spraying technique
on the FTO substrate, and then an anodic TiO2 structure was obtained by the anodization
technique. TiO2 films produced by the anodizing technique were used as a photoelectrode
for the degradation of MB. The reactor contained 400 mL of 20 mg/L MB solution at
20 °C. The produced photoelectrode was characterized by the SEM/EDS, FTIR, XRD, and
UV-Vis Spectrophotometer analyses.
Results: The EDS analysis confirmed the presence of titanium and oxygen in the FTO/
Anodized TiO2 photoelectrode. The XRD results showed that all the peaks of the produced
FTO/ Anodic TiO2 were associated with the anatase phase of TiO2. According to the FTIR
spectroscopy, the functional groups of the anodized TiO2 were obtained for the FTO/ Anodized
TiO2. The electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic degradation experiments
were performed with the degradation of the dye solution of MB on the FTO/
Anodic TiO2 photoelectrode, and the rates of dye degradation were determined as 17.12%,
64.67%, and 82.12%, respectively.
Conclusion: This study showed that the methylene blue dye of FTO/ Anodic TiO2 is a
suitable photoelectrode for electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrocatalytic degradation.