An investigation on photocatalytic behavior of N-doped TiO2 thin film, coated on glass surface by sol-gel dip coating method

In order to shift absorption edge into the visible light, nitrogen atoms were doped in TiO2 thin films by addingan organic compound such as diethanolamine to the Ti source. TiO2 thin films were deposited on glass substrates by sol–gel dip coating technique. N-doped and undoped TiO2 coated samples were annealed at 450 °C for 30 min in the air. Theprepared samples were characterized by XRD and UV-Vis spectroscopy to investigate phase composition and opticalproperties respectively. Water contact angle of the N-doped TiO2 film on contaminated glass surface was also measuredafter UV light irradiation. Although, approximately 13wt.% rutile was measured in the undoped TiO2 thin film, the NdopedTiO2 film was completely anatase. Doping nitrogen also decreased band gap as well as water contact angle of theTiO2 film.

Keywords:

optical properties , sol- gel , thin film , photocatalytic behavior