High Efficiency TiO2 Photocatalyst by the Sol-Gel Process

In this research, a TiO(2) ormocer-aerogel thickness film has been proposed. The TiO(2) ormocer-aerogel can provide advantages both from ormocer and aerogel, such as superior mechanical and optical properties, large surface area, and high porosity. Up to few hundred um thick of the TiO(2) ormocer-aerogel film can provide much larger surface than the TiO(2) colloidal films to deposit sensitized dye. Much higher conversion efficiency and reaction rate can be expected. The capability of the photocatalytic reaction can also be significantly increase. The continuous network of the ormocer also provides better electronic contact than the colloidal films, better charge transfer between dye and TiO(2) catalyst is possible. The hydrolysis between sensitized dye and ormocer can also provide crosslinking between dye and TiO(2) matrix, and better efficiency and stability can be expected. One of the advantages of the sol-gel process is the molecular level mixing. Therefore, doping effect on the TiO(2) ormocer-aerogel will also be studied in this research. The activity of the metal or oxide dopants should be significantly improved as that has been in aerogel. The interaction of the dopants and the sensitized dye will also be studied. Transparent conductive electrode (ATO, ITO) can also be fabricated by the sol-gel process, which can further decrease the manufacturing cost of the photocatalytic reactor.