Preparation of nitrogen co-doped SiO₂/TiO₂ thin films on ceramic with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation

Figures & data

Figure 1. Synthetic process of N/SiO₂–TiO₂ solution.

Figure 2. (Colour online) XRD diagrams of N/SiO₂–TiO₂ powders with different N.

Table 1. Crystallite sizes of N/SiO₂–TiO₂ powders with different N contents.

Sample	Mol % N	Crystallite size (nm)
N0	15 mol% SiO2–TiO2	9 13
N10	10 mol% N/15 mol% SiO2–TiO2	9.25
N20	20 mol% N/15 mol% SiO2–TiO2	10.13
N30	30 mol% N/15 mol% SiO2–TiO2	10.36
N40	40 mol% N/15 mol% SiO2–TiO2	15.59
N50	50 mol% N/15 mol% SiO2–TiO2	13.07

Figure 3. (a) SEM image and (b) TEM image of N40 thin films.

Figure 4. AFM image of (a) N20 film, (b) N30 film and (c) N40.

Figure 5. (Colour online) Optical transmission spectra of N/SiO₂–TiO₂ solutions with different contents.

Figure 6. (Colour online) Water contact angle on (a) normal ceramic tile substrate, (b) N40 film and (c) N40 film stored overnight.

Figure 7. Decomposition of MB on N/SiO₂–TiO₂ films under visible-light irradiation.

Figure 8. (Colour online) Decolouration of MB on (a) normal ceramic tile substrate and (b) N40 coated ceramic tile.

Figure 9. (Colour online) Test results on E. coli after 24 h on (a) normal ceramic tile substrate and (b) N40 coated ceramic tile substrate.

Chien , DM , Viet , NN , Van , NTK and Phong , NTP . 2009 . SiO2–TiO2 thin film and its photocatalyst properties . Adv. Nat. Sci. , 10 : 31 – 38 .

 Google Scholar