Sol–Gel Processed Functional Nanosized TiO2 and SiO2-Based Films for Photocatalysts and Other Applications

Titania and silica-based porous coatings have been produced via sol–gel route in the presence of pore-creating agents PEG and viscous solvent α-terpineol, or template agents CTAB, as well as triblock copolimer Pluronic P123. Porous titania films were characterised by HR TEM, UV-Vis, XRD, ellipsometry, ARS methods. The dispersion of the refractive index, the porosity (32–39%) and the thickness of the samples were estimated by integrating sphere transmission and reflection spectra with 3D angular resolved light scattering. The catalytic activity of mesoporous TiO2 and TiO2/ZrO2 as well as SiO2-benzophenone films in the process of CrVI to CrIII and Ag+ to Ag0 photoreduction have been studied.