Photoactive TiO2 films produced with different techniques in anodic spark deposition regime

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is an environmental-friendly procedure, which efficiency in decomposing organic contaminants is well demonstrated, that is gaining importance in a world more and more worried about pollution problems. The subject of this study is the preparation and characterization of photocatalytic anodic TiO2 films, anodized with anodic spark deposition (ADS) technique. Being heterogeneous photocatalysis a surface phenomenon, great importance is given to photocatalyst surface specific area and the porous surface obtained by ASD well fit photocatalytic purposes. Sulfuric acid based solution was used to anodize ASTM grade 2 commercially pure titanium from 80 V to 160 V of cell potential in fixed time, fixed potential ramp condition and in galvanostatic condition. The presence and quantity of anatase and rutile crystalline phases was found with XRD analyses and related to photocatalytic efficiency retrieved from direct UV exposition experiments performed in an aqueous solution of Rhodamine-B.