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Applications of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles

Conference Paper · January 2009

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2184.6006

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 Nano-Technology in Environments Conference – February 2006
Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

Applications of Titanium Dioxdie Nanocoating

Behzad Rezaei1, Hamid Mosaddeghi2

1, 2
Department of Chemistry, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
1
rezaei@cc.iut.ac.ir
2
h.mosaddeghi@ch.iut.ac.ir

Abstract
Metal oxide semiconductors, such as TiO2 nanoparticles are frequently used as photocatalyst due to non-
toxicity, chemical stability, and the ability to possess relatively high photocatalytic activity of TiO2.
Laboratory studies have demonstrated that organic compounds such as alcohols, carboxylic acid, phenolic
derivatives, and chlorinated aromatics can be readily mineralized by TiO2 into harmless carbon dioxide,
water and simple mineral acids, using molecular oxygen as the primary oxidant.

Keywords: Titanium oxide - Environmental pollution - photocatalytic degradation process

Introduction medicine. For example, titanium oxide

Nanotechnology is not just about the size of very
small things, it is the revolutionary science and the
art of manipulating matter at the atomic or
molecular scale. More important, it is about the
structure and the ability of molecular compounds to
"work". Research in areas related to nanomaterial is
needed to develop manufacturing techniques. In
particular, it is a synergy of top-down with bottom-
up processes. When matter is as small as 1 to 100
nanometers, many of its features will easily change
and have many unique features both different from
macro-matters and single atoms due to the quanta
effect, regional confinement of matter, and huge
surface or interface effects. The final objective of
nanometer technology is to produce products of
Special functions with new physical and chemical
features by making atoms, molecules and matters
presenting their features directly in the length of a
nanometer.
In recent years, metal oxide nanoparticles have
attracted much attention by their potential
application in diverse fields including catalysis,
magnetic recording media, microelectronics,
nanoparticles (fig.1) are very important due to their
various applications; removing the environmental
pollution, sterilization and restraining virus,
defending UV, keep rust away, and depigment[1].
The element Titanium was discovered in 1791 by
William Gregor, in England. Four years later a man
named Martin H. Klaproth, recognized that there
was a new chemical element in this mineral, he
later named it Titanium after the Titans, which
were humongous monsters that ruled the world in
Greek mythology. Martin H. Klaproth was not able
to make the pure element of titanium however; he
was only able to produce TiO2, or Titanium
Dioxide[2].
Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a multifaceted
compound. It's the stuff that makes toothpaste
white and paint opaque. TiO2 is also a potent
photocatalyst that can break down almost any
organic compound when exposed to sunlight, and a
number of companies are seeking to capitalize on
titanium dioxide’s reactivity by developing a wide
range of environmentally beneficial products,
including self-cleaning fabrics, auto body finishes,

1
Assoc.Prof. of Analytical chemistry
2
Msc Student of Physical chemistry
 Nano-Technology in Environments Conference – February 2006
Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
and ceramic tiles. Also one development is a
paving stone that uses the catalytic properties of
TiO2 to remove nitrogen oxide from the air,
breaking it down into more environmentally benign
substances that can then be washed away by
rainfall.
Other experiments with TiO2 involve removing the
ripening hormone ethylene from areas where
perishable fruits, vegetables, and cut flowers are
stored; stripping organic pollutants such as
trichloroethylene and methyl-tert-butyl ether from
water; and degrading toxins produced by blue-
green algae. It remains to be seen, however,
whether the formation of undesirable intermediate
products during these processes outweighs the
benefits offered by TiO2's photocatalytic properties.
Titanium dioxide is a well-known photocatalyst for
water and air treatment as well as for catalytic
production of gases. The general scheme for the
photocatalytic destruction of organics begins with
its excitation by suprabandgap photons, and
continues through redox reactions where OH
radicals, formed on the photocatalyst surface, play
a major role. Titanium dioxide is non-toxic and
therefore is used in cosmetic products (sunscreens,
lipsticks, body powder, soap, pearl essence
pigments, tooth pastes) and also in special
pharmaceutics. Titanium dioxide is even used in
food stuffs, for instance in the wrapping of salami.
Titanium dioxide’s photocatalytic characteristics
are greatly enhanced due to the advent of
nanotechnology. At nano-scale, not only the
surface area of titanium dioxide particle increases
dramatically but also it exhibits other effects on
optical properties and size quantization. An
increased rate in photocatalytic reaction is observed
as the redox potential increases and the size
decreases.
Applications of titanium oxide
photocatalyst
Photocatalysis refers to the chemical reaction that
occurs when light strikes a chemical compound that
is light sensitive, such as titanium oxide. When
light strikes titanium dioxide, a chemical reaction
repeated in the immediate region and causes the
breakdown of organic toxins, odors, and more. This
reaction has many valuable results; several of
important applications are listed below (fig.2)
Environmental improvement applications:
TiO2 causes remove environmental pollution
substances, such as NOx emitted by exhaust gas etc.
from the atmosphere. SOx, a detrimental inorganic
matter in the atmosphere is also broken down.
Deodorization applications:
TiO2 doesn't cover up smells, like conventional air
fresheners, it actually attacks the root of the smell
by causing the breakdown of the origin of the odor
(ammonia, aldehyde gas [smoke], etc). (fig.3)
Water purifying applications:
TiO2 also causes detrimental organic matter such
as organic chlorine compounds, tetrachlorethylene,
trihalomethane and other harmful substances to
broken down[3]. (fig.4). For example, chloroform
breaks down according to the process below:
H2O + CHCl3 + (1/2)O2 Î CO2 + 3HCl
Pharmaceutical applications
Sterilization, restraining virus; TiO2 photocatalyst
can destroy the membrane of cells; solid the
proteins of viruses, restrain the virus activation, and
catching them. It kills bacterias up to 99.97%. TiO2
can kill coliform, green suppuration bacillus,
golden grape coccus, mildew, suppuration fungus,
etc.The ability of sterilization can be tested through
coliform and golden grape coccus. At the
beginning, there are 3.3×105 coliforms and 3.2×105
golden grape coccus. After 24 hours’ reaction,
there are only 10[4].
Mechanism of titanium dioxide
photocatalytic degradation process
Under illumination, the TiO2 photocatalyst absorbs
photons with energy equal or higher than its band
gap energy (λ <385nm). This will delocalizes a
valence electron and excites it to the conduction
band of this semiconductor. These photo excited
charge carriers can initiate the degradation of the
adsorbed chemical species by one or more forms of
electron transfer reactions. However, alternatively,
they can recombine radiatively or non-radiatively
and dissipating the input energy as heat[5]. (fig.5)
To improve the efficiency, Fe and Er are used as
additives with TiO2. Then it can be used in visible
region as the band gap energy reduces[6].
Figures and Graphs
References
1. United States Patent 6653356
2. Greenwood N.N., Earnshaw A.” Chemistry of
the elements”, pp 954, Elsevier, 1997.
3. Ollis, D.F.,Alekabi,Matthews,R.W. In
Photocatalytic Purification and Treatment of Water
and Air, Eds. Elsevier, Amsterdam ,1993.
 Nano-Technology in Environments Conference – February 2006
Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

4. Ireland, J.C. et. al. Inactivation of Escheria coli

by Titanium Dioxide Photocatalytic Oxidation.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology. May
1993.
5. Http://www.aircleanmedium.com
6. Http://www.freepatentsonline.com
Nano-Technology in Environments Conference – February 2006
Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

Fig 1. TEM image of titanium dioxide Nanoparticles

Fig 2. Applications of Titanium Dioxide

 Nano-Technology in Environments Conference – February 2006
Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

Fig 3. The Function of Decomposing Aldehyde

Fig 4: Decomposing of oil contamination (A: first day , B: third day , C:fifth day , D:7th day )
 Nano-Technology in Environments Conference – February 2006
Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

Fig 5. Mechanism of titanium dioxide photocatalytic degradation process

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