TiO2/Methylcellulose Nanocomposite Films For Photocatalytic Applications

TiO2/methylcellulose (MeC) nanocomposite films were obtained by wet-chemical techniques using MeC and/or additives (acetylacetone, polyethylene glycol and Triton X-100). Thin films were obtained by spin-coating the colloidal suspensions on conductive indium tin oxide (ITO) glass, followed by a heat-treatment. The effect of MeC and additives on TiO2 nanoparticles dispersion was investigated by FTIR microscopy and X-ray diffraction (for structural and morphological properties), UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy and spectrofluorimetry (for optoelectronic properties) and wet technique adhesion test (for mechanical integrity). The composite film with methylcellulose and additives has good integrity and better adhesion to ITO substrate, without losing its photocatalytic activity. The results of these experiments showed that such nanocomposite films are interesting candidate for applications in the field of photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants.