Preparation of Pd-containing TiO2 film and its photocatalytic properties

The palladium-containing titanium dioxide films on glass substrate were prepared in a dip-coating process using a palladium-containing TiO₂ sol. Following calcinations at 300°C, the authors rated the resulting film as having a hardness of 5°H as determined by a pencil scratch hardness tester. The photocatalytic activities were evaluated by decolourisation of methyl orange and degradation of NOx, respectively. Simple analysis was carried out using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) to observe changes in the film following palladium modification. Modification of TiO₂ films with palladium enhanced the photocatalytic activity for decolourisation of dye and oxidation of NO.