SYNTHESIS OF TiO₂-SiO₂ FROM TETRA-N-BUTYL ORTHOTITANATE AND TETRAETHYL ORTHOSILICATE BY THE SOL - GEL METHOD APPLIED AS A COATING ON THE SURFACE OF CERAMICS

From the last years of the twentieth century, TiO 2 materials with a photocatalytic ability have been known for their use in many applications, such as decomposing toxic organic matter, bactericides, and self-cleaning agents.However, the TiO 2 coating is usually not durable when coated on the surface of ceramics.In this study, TiO 2 -SiO 2 was synthesised from a TiO 2 sol and an SiO 2 sol that were calcined at 500 C and 600 C.Analytical methods, such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction analysis, and Scanning Electron Microscopy, have been applied to test the properties of the formed TiO 2 -SiO 2 .The Fourier infrared spectrum analysis showed that the samples appeared to be -OH, Ti-O-Ti, Ti-O, Si-O-Si, and Ti-O-Si.The X-Ray diffraction pattern analysis showed that the formed crystalline components of TiO 2 -SiO 2 were rutile and anatase.The results of the morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed the appearance of characteristic crystalline forms of rutile and anatase.The formation of anatase crystals shows that the TiO 2 -SiO 2 coating can be applied as a photocatalyst material.Besides, the formed Ti-O-Si, Si-O-Si bonds also promise to improve the bonding ability of the coating to the surface of ceramics materials, helping to improve the applicability of this type of material.