Optically Transparent Titanium Dioxide Particles Incorporated in Poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) Thin Layers

Abstract

The optically transparent particles of titanium dioxide (rutile modification) were prepared by hydrolysis of aqueous solution of titanium(III) chloride in the presence of hydroxyethyl methacrylate. The transparent TiO2 doped with Ag or Pd nanoparticles was incorporated in a poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) thin layer and deposited on a quartz surface. The transparent particles of titania were characterized by measurement of particle size distribution, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction. Photocatalytic activity of prepared thin layers was determined by mineralization of Orange II dye, salicylic acid, butane, and acetone under UV radiation. The effects of the Ag and Pd doping on the morphology and microstructure of transparent TiO2 nanoparticles and their impacts on the photocatalytic activity were also studied. The photoactivity of the prepared transparent titania nanoparticles incorporated in thin poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) layers was assessed by the photocatalytic decomposition during irradiation at 365 or 254 nm.