Vityuk N. Synthesis and physico-chemical properties of TіO2/ZrO2/SiO2 sol-gel films modified by gold and silver nanoparticles

Thesis is devoted to the sol-gel synthesis and investigation of structural, optical and photocatalytical properties of nanosized ternary photocatalysts TiO2/ZrO2/SiO2 modified with Ag and Au nanoparticles, with high thermal, chemical and radiation stability. It was found that obtained transparent nanosized ternary films remain stable after ?-irradiation as well as contact with aggressive chemical environment. Under experimental conditions of sol-gel procedure of ternary systems formation, two crystalline phases are formed anatase (TiO2) and shrilankite (Ti2ZrO6). Atomic ratios on the films surfaces are different from the molar ratios of the components within precursor due to their different diffusion rates to the surface during the thermal treatment. The surface layer is enriched with Ti atoms after this procedure. On the base of analysis of the detail XPS spectra it was found the formation of Si - O - Ti, Si - O - Zr, Ti - O - Zr, Si - O - Ti - O - Zr bonds. Modification of ternary films with gold nanoparticles results in the substantial increase of photocatalytic activity in the oxidative mineralization of organic dyes rodamine B.