The effect of the structural, optical, and surface properties of anatase-TiO2 film on photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue organic contaminant

TiO 2 film was prepared onto glass substrates with ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique by using the less reported Ti (IV) chloride precursor, and then a highly anatase TiO 2 film was successfully produced by annealing at 550 °C for 3 h in air. The structural, optical, and surface properties were characterized in detail by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, UV–vis spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry, photoluminescence spectrometry, atomic force microcopy (AFM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Furthermore, to investigate the application potential as a catalyst, the photocatalytic property of TiO 2 film was tested by the degradation of methylene blue dye at various time intervals under UV light. It was determined that photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue using TiO 2 film has the highest correlation with first-order velocity law, and the degradation efficiency was successfully achieved at 66.1% after 1 h. Consequently, an alternative, inexpensive, easily applicable, and highly efficient material was developed for the removal of organic dyes in wastewater.