Photocatalytic destruction of prometryn on Ti-containing aluminum foil nanocomposites

The properties of aluminum foil treated with titanium ions in the application to the destruction of prometryn are considered. The samples were obtained by ion bombardment (titanium ions in a nitrogen plasma) of aluminum at energies of 20 keV. The composition of samples surface and the effect of calcination temperature and process duration were determined by XRD, SEM and EDXS. The depth distribution of ions was simulated using the RIO software. It is shown that ionic implantation leads to the formation nanoscale layer of the implant on the surface aluminum foil. Increasing the calcination temperature and its duration changes the sample’s activity and can be explained by the influence of the ratio between the nitride, oxynitride and oxide phases of titanium. The formation and decomposition of these phases on the surface explains the appearance of the maximum activity in the decomposition of prometryn under ultraviolet irradiation for all samples. Thus, the use of the obtained samples for neutralizing herbicides (for example, prometryn) under ultraviolet irradiation is promising and relevant.