Ceramics-Silikáty 53, (3) 156 - 160 (2009)

The influence of noble metals (gold, silver, copper) on photocatalytic properties of thin titania layers prepared on glass was followed. The layers were prepared by sol-gel method from tetra-n-butyl orthotitanate, isopropanol, acetylacetone, water and mineral acid as catalyst. Metal additives were added in form of water solution of appropriate salt – AuCl₃, AgNO₃ and Cu₂C₁₂. Layers were applied on microscopic slides by dip-coating technique. The influence of composition of initial sol and the amount of metals on photodegradation effect and wetting angle was followed. Photodegradation ability and wetting angle of layers containing metal additives were lower in comparison with pure titania layers. The wetting angle values on metals containing layers were not measurable which can be considered as superhydrophilic behavior (zero contact angle) of the layers surface. This effect was observed on the surface of metals containing layers without necessity of previous UV irradiation.