The effect of SiO2 addition in super-hydrophilic property of TiO2 photocatalyst

The relation between the effect and the amount of SiO2 addition on photo-generated hydrophilicity of TiO2 thin film, was investigated by measuring the X-ray diffraction, the microstructure, the specific surface area and the TG-DTA. It was found that the optimum range existed in the amount of SiO2 addition to TiO2, 10-30 mol % SiO2 addition was most effective for contact angle of water. The SiO2 addition less than 30 mol % has a suppressive effect on the transformation of anatase to rutile and on the crystal growth of anatase in calcination, and it has large surface area. With the consequence that the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 and the capability of holding absorbed water wh ich increases du ring UV irradiation improved. (C) 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers.