Enhanced photocatalytic activity of TiO2 by polydimethylsiloxane deposition and subsequent thermal treatment at 800 °C

A thin film of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was coated on TiO2 nanoparticles (P-25, Dagussa), and surface structures of the thin films were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Furthermore, photocatalytic activity of PDMS-coated TiO2 samples with various annealing temperatures was determined using UV irradiation. We show that the 800 °C-annealed sample of PDMS-coated TiO2 showed a two-fold higher photocatalytic activity with respect to the bare TiO2. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the greater hydrophilicity of the annealed PDMS coating. - Highlights: ► Thin film of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was coated on TiO2 nanoparticles. ► Samples were annealed between 700 and 800 °C. ► 800 °C-annealed PDMS-coated TiO2 showed the highest photocatalytic activity. ► Enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to greater hydrophilicity.