Photocatalytic activities and surface properties of e-beam treated carbon paper deposited $TiO_2$ using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)

Thin film of $TiO_2$ deposited on carbon paper was fabricated by atomic layer deposition (ALD) using titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) and $H_2O$ as precursors. In this work, the photocatalytic activities of $TiO_2$ films with and without e-beam treatment were compared. The samples were treated by e-beam using e-beam energy of 1MeV and exposure range between 5 and 15kGy. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the photocatalytic degradation of methyleneblue (MB) under UV irradiation (365nm) at room temperature using an UV-vis spectroscopy. The surface properties were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The sample treated by the low radiation dose has more catalytic activity than other ones. SEM images show that the high radiation dose caused the $TiO_2$ to aggregation on carbon paper. Due to the aggregation of $TiO_2$, the partially exposed carbon paper was oxidized.