Photocatalityc activity of ceramics containing TiO2 powders

none3In recent years, titanium dioxide has been extensively applied in several fields, in fact it has been used in pigments, in gas sensors, in cosmetic products, in dielectric materials and for photocatalysis. In particular, as photocatalyst, its semiconductor characteristics allow its utilization to detoxify some recalcitrant environmental pollutants. Indeed, titania has other positive characteristics such as nontoxicity, long term stability and low cost. In the present work, the photocatalytic activity of ceramic products containing anatase has been evaluated. Commercial anatase powders were added to different ceramic body mixes. Pressed pellets were fired at different temperatures. The ceramic products were analysed by X-ray diffraction analysis to determine the mineralogical compositions, in particular to detect the polymorphic form in which titania was present. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared specimen was then evaluated in order to assess the potentiality of these innovative materials in getting some attractive and favourable side-effects. Actually, under UVA irradiation, ceramics containing titania might be able to attain some degree of sterilization, self cleaning and pollutant removal, whose extent mainly depends on the processing conditions.Autore/i del volume: EUROPEAN CERAMIC SOCIETYnoneG. Camera-Roda; A. Tucci; L. EspositoG. Camera-Roda; A. Tucci; L. Esposit