P-009
Maria-Anthoniette Oghenetejiro Onoriode-Afunezie
maria.onoriode@ktu.edu
Agnė Šulčiūtė
Kaunas University of Technology
Comparative Study of TiO2 Nanostructures on AISI 316 Steel and Titanium Substrates for Photocatalytic Applications
Introduction
The development of efficient and durable TiO2-based photocatalytic materials is essential for wastewater treatment applications [1], [2]. This study explores the influence of two different synthesis methods on the structural and morphological properties of TiO2 coatings. Understanding how these synthesis techniques affect the nanostructure formation, crystallinity, and surface morphology is crucial for optimizing photocatalytic performance [1].
Materials and Methods
The Methanol-Enhanced TiO2 coating was prepared by dispersing TiO2 nanoparticles in methanol and spray-coating onto AISI 316 stainless steel, followed by calcination at 400 °C. The TiO2 NTA was synthesized by anodizing titanium at 30 V in an electrolyte solution, then calcinated at 500 °C [3] to enhance crystallinity. The resulting structures were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate morphological differences and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine crystalline phase composition.
Discussion
SEM analysis revealed distinct nanostructures: the spray-coated TiO2 exhibited a rough, agglomerated nanoparticle morphology, while the anodized TiO2 formed well-ordered nanotube arrays with a uniform porous structure.
XRD confirmed the presence of anatase TiO2 in both coatings, with sharper peaks in the TiO2 NTA sample, indicating higher crystallinity. The differences in morphology and crystallinity suggest that TiO2 NTA may offer superior charge separation and photocatalytic efficiency due to its ordered nanotubular structure. However, the spray-coated TiO2 provides a scalable and adaptable approach for stainless steel substrates.
The photocatalytic performance was tested by degrading ciprofloxacin with TiO2 NTA and Methanol Enhanced TiO2 over a time period, resulting in R² values of 0.96002 and 0.9815, respectively. The higher R² for Methanol Enhanced TiO2 suggests improved efficiency in the degradation process. These findings highlight the importance of synthesis techniques in tailoring TiO2 coatings for photocatalytic wastewater treatment applications.
References
[1] S. Ganesan, P. Roshan, and R. Mathur, ‘Intelligent Technologies for Research and Engineering’, in Photocatalyst Based on TiO2 and Its Application for Environmental Remediation: A Challenge to Sustainable Development, vol. 2, Bentham Science, pp. 253–272. Accessed: Mar. 04, 2025. [Online]. Available: 10.2174/9789815165586124020025
[2] Z. Lu et al., ‘Flexible roles of TiO2 in enhancing carrier separation for the high photocatalytic performance of water treatment under different spectrum sunlight’, Journal of Water Process Engineering, vol. 66, p. 106021, Sep. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106021.
[3] V. Abromaitis et al., ‘TiO2 nanotube arrays photocatalytic ozonation for the removal of antibiotic ciprofloxacin from the effluent of a domestic wastewater treatment plant: Towards the process upscaling’, Journal of Water Process Engineering, vol. 63, p. 105457, Jun. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.105457.