Nano-structured TiO2 thin films were deposited onto soda lime glass by the pneumatic spray pyrolysis method from a peroxo-titanium complex solution. Samples were prepared spraying 10 s the complex solution followed by an interruption of 20 s in order to avoid inadequate substrate cooling, the substrate temperature was varied from 230 to 430 °C in 50 °C steps. Amorphous as-deposited films crystallized to the anatase phase after an annealing process at 500 °C for 3 h. The photocatalytic activity of the nanostructured TiO2 thin films was studied under UV irradiation with the degradation of methylene-blue. Amorphous as-deposited TiO2 films prepared at low substrate temperatures (280 °C) showed the best photocatalytic activity, but after the annealing process films exhibit a decrease in the photocatalytic activity due to both the increase in the grain size and the decrease in the surface ...

TiO2 nanotubes were synthesized by alkaline hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 nanoparticles with a controlled proportion of anatase and rutile. Tailoring of TiO2 phases was achieved by adjusting the pH and type of acid used in the hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide (first step in the sol-gel synthesis). The anatase proportion in the precursor nanoparticles was in the 3–100% range. Tube-like nanostructures were obtained with an anatase percentage of 18 or higher while flake-like shapes were obtained when rutile was dominant in the seed. After annealing at 400°C for 2 h, a fraction of nanotubes was conserved in all the samples but, depending on the anatase/rutile ratio in the starting material, spherical and rod-shaped structures were also observed. The photocatalytic activity of 1D nanostructures was evaluated by measuring the deactivation of E. coli in stirred water in the dark and un...