Influence of Acetylacetone on Photocatalytic Properties of TiO_2 Thin Films Deposited on PMMA Substrates

The nanocrystalline TiO2 solution was prepared using a microwave hydrothermal process to treat precursor liquid which was obtained by control the hydrolysis of titanium-n-butoxide in the presence of excessive water and acetylacetone(AcAcH).Then nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films were deposited on polymethylmethacrylate(PMMA) substrates by dip-coating process from TiO2 colloidal solution.The phase composition of TiO2 nanoparticles,morphologies and optical properties of TiO2 thin films deposited on PMMA substrates were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FTIR),transmission electron microscope(TEM),atomic force microscopy(AFM) and UV-vis spectroscopy.Meanwhile photocatalytic properties of TiO2 films were investigated by degradation of Rhodamine B(RhB) under ultraviolet radiation.The results indicate that anatase TiO2 colloidal solution modified by AcAcH is disperse,uniform,deposit-free and the deposited TiO2 thin films are transparent,homogeneous and compact,and show high efficiency of photocatalysis.Rhodamine B has been degradated over 90% at 180 min.