Preparation, kinetics, mechanism and properties of semi-transparent photocatalytic stable films active in dye degradation

The photocatalytic activity, mechanism and characterization of polyethylene-TiO2 films (PE-TiO2) during the discoloration/degradation of methylene blue (MB) are reported in this study. PE-TiO2 films were prepared at moderate temperatures (similar to 90 degrees C). TiO2 did not leach out during discoloration/degradation of MB. This is a significant finding for a low temperature catalyst-polymer preparation leading to a stable repetitive MB degradation kinetics. MB discoloration on PE-TiO2 films proceeded showing a quantum yield of 0.25%. Band-gap irradiation of TiO2 was applied by way of a mercury medium pressure lamp to excite only TiO2 and avoid MB photosensitization. The nature of the oxidative radicals intervening in MB discoloration was investigated by scavenging experiments. The relative importance of the oxidative species during MB discoloration is: TiO(2)vbh(+) > HO2 center dot/O-2(center dot-) > O-1(2) > OH center dot. Evidence is presented for the superoxide anion-radical O-2(center dot-) at pH 6, as the main radical species leading to MB-discoloration. The MB-discoloration kinetic trend on PE-TiO2 followed the behavior observed for diffusion-controlled reactions. The diffusion distance of the HO2 center dot and OH center dot radicals during the discoloration of a solution MB 1 x 10(-5) mol L-1 were estimated as 71 and 2.2 mu m respectively. The OH center dot formation was assessed quantitatively during MB degradation by fluorescence measurements. The PE-TiO2 film at time zero presented a contact angle (CA) of similar to 92 degrees, decreasing within the five hour MB discoloration period to