Effects of calcination temperatures on photocatalytic activity of ordered titanate nanoribbon/SnO₂ films fabricated during an EPD process

Abstract

Ordered titanate nanoribbon (TNR)/SnO₂ films were fabricated by electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process using hydrothermally prepared titanate nanoribbon as a precursor. The formation mechanism of ordered TNR film on the fluorine-doped SnO₂ coated (FTO) glass was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effects of calcination temperatures on the phase structure and photocatalytic activity of ordered TNR/SnO₂ films were investigated and discussed. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results indicate that the phase transformation of titanate to anatase occurs at 400°C and with increasing calcination temperature, the crystallization of anatase increases. At 600°C, the nanoribbon morphology still hold and the TiO₂/SnO₂ film exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity due to the good crystallization, unique morphology, and efficient photogenerated charge carriers separation and transfer at the interface of TiO₂ and SnO₂.