Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of TiO2-hectorite layer-by-layer thin films

TiO2/hectorite multilayer films were prepared by the layer-by-layer self-assembly method on glass slides. The quality of multilayer formation was investigated by absorption spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron diffraction (EDS). Evidence was found for the uniform deposition of different components. The increment of film thickness was constant and independent of the number layers deposited. Photocatalytic measurements were made with methylene blue (MB). The kinetic data were represented by the first-order kinetic model. Degradation was continuously monitored by UV-spectrometry. Significant photodegradation of MB was only found in the presence of the multilayer films.