Synthesis of TiO2 photocatalytic materials via solid-state reaction and its photodegradation property for methyl orange

TiO2 photocatalytic materials were successfully synthesised via solid-state reaction. Dehydrate titanyl sulfate (TiOSO4 center dot 2H(2)O) and sodium oxalate (Na2C2O4) powders were used as the reactants and polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) as the surface active agent, respectively. After grinding for 50 min at room temperature, the precursor (TiOC2O4) was prepared. The TiO2 photocatalytic materials were obtained by annealing the precursor in the temperature range of 300-800 degrees C. The properties of the samples were characterised by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) methods. The photocatalytic performance of the samples was evaluated by degrading methyl orange (MO) under UV-light irradiation, with TiO2 prepared at 450 degrees C showing the highest efficiency in the photodegradation process. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 photocatalytic materials was maintained after recycling five times.