Temperature Matters: An Infrared Spectroscopic Investigation on the Photocatalytic Efficiency of Titania Coatings

Titania is one of the most studied photocatalytic materials for self-cleaning applications. To maximize the photocatalytic efficiency, different strategies are currently under investigation, such as control of the nano- or microstructure, optimization of the crystalline phase and addition of doping agents. A parameter too often neglected is temperature, which dramatically affects the self-cleaning processes in thin titanium dioxide (TiO2) films. In this study, we prepared a titania coating using the sol–gel route. Stearic acid and a triblock copolymer (Pluronic F127) were used as model pollutants. A dedicated heating cell was used to precisely control the temperature. The infrared spectroscopy was used to follow the amount of residual pollutant agents within 60 minutes every 10 C. The photocatalytic reaction rate was calculated for the stearic acid in the 25–60 C range.