Low-temperature fabrication and photocatalytic activity of clustered TiO2 particles formed on glass fibers

Clustered anatase phase TiO2particles were uniformly formed on the surface of glass fibers by a liquid phase deposition (LPD) method at 60 °C using TiF4and H3BO3as the precursors. The clustered TiO2particles deposited on the glass fibers and as a photocatalyst these particles not only have a larger surface area than TiO2thin films, but also can avoid the disadvantages of using TiO2powders encountered in air purification or water treatment. The photocatalytic activity of the sample was evaluated by the photocatalytic oxidation of nitrogen monoxide (NO) in the gaseous phase. The deposition conditions and chemical composition of the clustered TiO2particles were discussed. It was found that the clustered TiO2particles that formed on the glass fibers obviously showed photocatalytic activity without high-temperature calcination. A formation mechanism was proposed to account for the formation of TiO2clustered morphology on the glass fibers.