Faculty of Chemistry, National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia:

A. A. Buzaev, Assistant Lecturer at the Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, e-mail: buzaev92@icloud.com
E. S. Lyutova, Associate Professor at the Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Candidate of Technical Sciences
V. A. Tkachuk, Master’s Student at the Department of Inorganic Chemistry
L. P. Borilo, Professor at the Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Doctor of Technical Sciences

This paper examines the TiO₂ – SiO₂ – Ag/fiberglass materials that have been synthesized and that are capable of decomposing organic substances absorbed on the surface when exposed to visible light. The paper looks at the composition, as well as optical and texture properties of the synthesized materials. They are represented by a photocatalytic composite TiO₂ – SiO₂ – Ag film built on the surface of a fiberglass carrier. In the course of thermal analysis, the authors established the effect of temperature on the TiO₂ – SiO₂ – Ag film and defined an optimum heat treatment regime. The effect of silicon oxide and silver additions to TiO₂ – SiO₂ – Ag films was established. When the temperature rises to 600 ^oC, the thermal stability of the anatase phase of titanium dioxide rises. At the same time, the optical properties deteriorate, the film thickness decreases to 23.92 ± 1.24 nm, refraction index – to 2.154 ± 0.002, band gap energy — to 2.8 ± 0.5; and the light absorption shifts into the visible region, which is of relevance when dealing with photocatalysis problems. The authors looked at the p-xylol photooxidation under 440 nm light to understand the photocatalytic activity of the materials. The maximum efficiency of the material in the p-xylol oxidation reaction is reached at a polluted air feed rate of 0.8 to 1.6 m/sec and a p-xylol concentration of 25 mg/m³. A 93 to 98% conversion degree is reached under the above conditions. The obtained TiO₂ – SiO₂ – Ag/fiberglass material has a combination of properties that makes it potentially useful as a filtering/absorbing material for studying photocatalytic air treatment processes.
This research was carried out under the Tomsk State University Development Programme Priority-2030 using the following original equipment: A Framework of Experimental Bases Situated along the Latitudinal Gradient, owned by TSU.
The research was funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia; RF-2296.61321Х0043, 13.УНУ.21.00 05, Agreement No. 075-15-2021-672.

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