Effectiveness of TiO2 coating on concrete surfaces for photocatalytic degradation of solutions
Abstract
In this study, the photocatalytic performance of TiO₂-coated concrete surfaces was systematically investigated with respect to coating configuration and catalyst loading using methylene blue (MB) and Rhodamine B (Rh-B) as model organic pollutants. TiO₂ was applied onto concrete surfaces at different concentrations (5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) in both single-layer and double-layer configurations, and the degradation behavior of the dyes under UV irradiation was evaluated. The results revealed that increasing TiO₂ content significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity in both coating configurations. However, double-layer coatings consistently outperformed single-layer systems, particularly at higher TiO₂ loadings. The maximum degradation efficiencies reached 52.12% for MB and 77.4% for Rh-B under UV irradiation, demonstrating the effectiveness of TiO₂-coated surfaces in removing organic pollutants. Kinetic analysis indicated that the photocatalytic degradation process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, with higher apparent rate constants (Kapp) observed in double-layer systems. This enhancement was attributed to increased availability of active sites, improved light utilization, and more efficient charge-carrier dynamics. Mechanistically, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl and superoxide radicals, along with improved charge separation facilitated by surface hydroxyl groups and oxygen vacancies, played a key role in enhancing photocatalytic performance. Overall, the findings demonstrate that optimizing both TiO₂ loading and coating architecture provides an effective strategy for improving the photocatalytic efficiency of cement-based materials. The proposed double-layer TiO₂ coating system offers significant potential for developing self-cleaning, environmentally responsive construction materials for urban applications.
Keywords
References
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