Influence of $TiO_2$ Thin Film Thickness and Humidity on Toluene Adsorption and Desorption Behavior of Nanoporous $TiO_2/SiO_2$ Prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)

Adsorption and desorption of toluene from bare and $TiO_2$-coated silica with a mean pore size of 15 nm was studied using breakthrough curves and temperature programmed desorption. Thicknesses of $TiO_2$ films prepared by atomic layer deposition on silica were < 2 nm, and ~ 5 nm, respectively. For toluene adsorption, both dry and humid conditions were used. $TiO_2$-thin film significantly improved toluene adsorption capacity of silica under dry condition, whereas desorption of toluene from the surface as a consequence of displacement by water vapor was more pronounced for $TiO_2$-coated samples with respect to the result of bare ones. In the TPD experiments, silica with a thinner $TiO_2$ film (thickness < 2 nm) showed the highest reactivity for toluene oxidation to $CO_2$ in the absence and presence of water. We show that the toluene adsorption and oxidation reactivity of silica can be controlled by varying thickness of $TiO_2$ thin films.