NEW GENERATION K(2)Ln(2)Ti(3)O(10) PHOTOCATALYTIC SEMICONDUCTING THIN FILMS AND THEIR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

In this study, lanthan-titanates K(2)Ln(2)Ti(3)O(10) (Ln=La, Nd, Gd, Sm and Dy) thin films were deposited on Si (100) substrates via sol-gel technique for photocatalytic applications. Transparent solutions were prepared from K, Ln and Ti based precursors, propionic acid, glacial acetic acid at room temperature, and deposited on Si (100) substrates using spin coating technique. K(2)Ln(2)Ti(3)O(10) powders were calcined at 850 degrees C for 3 hours in an electrical furnace. The powders were dissolved in propionic acid (0.1 M). The obtained solutions were deposited on Si (100) substrates by means of spin coating technique and the films were subsequently annealed at 900 degrees C for 90 minutes in air. The thermal, structural and morphological of the films were characterized by DTA, XRD and SEM techniques. Photocatalytic experiments were carried out by the UV-VIS spectrophotometer. The results revealed that K(2)Ln(2)Ti(3)O(10) films possess perovskite structure with Ln(2)Ti(3)O10(2-) octahedral perovskite layers. Owing to this structure, it easily hydrolyzes toxic organic matters in aqua solutions and even only humidity media under UV light and thus exhibits a very high photocatalytic activity. It can be worked under the sunlight environment and it is aimed to use these productions for degradation of methylene blue in industrial wastewater.