Synthesis and Characterization of Ni-doped TiO2 Nanostructures as an Active Self-cleaning Cover on Floor-Tile Surface

In this work, Ni doped titanium dioxide (Ni-doped TiO2) nanostructures were synthesized by reverse microemulsion method. The effect of calcination temperature on the purity and morphology of Ni-doped TiO2 nanostructures was investigated. The products were characterized by various analyses such as scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The existence of Ni as dopants was confirmed by decreasing in band gap of TiO2. The pH influence to photoactivity of the as-prepared Ni-doped TiO2 was investigated through decomposition of Acid Red 1 (A.R.1.), Reactive Blue 21 (R.A.21.) and Acid Blue 74 (A.B.74.) as organic pollutants. The kinetic studies revealed that reactions follow the improved Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. The hydrophilicity, surface and interfacial interactions of the products on the floor tile was investigated by wetting experiments and a sessile drop technique at room temperature. The results confirmed that Ni-doped TiO2 has hydrophilicity property, so it can be used as an effective photocatalytic cover for preparation of self-cleaning surfaces under UV irradiation and visible light.