The Effect of SiO2 Shell on the Suppression of Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 and ZnO Nanoparticles

In this study, we investigate the potential use of $TiO_2@SiO_2$ and $ZnO@SiO_2$ core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) as effective UV shielding agent. In the typical synthesis, $SiO_2$ was coated over different types of $TiO_2$ (anatase and rutile) and ZnO by sol-gel method. The synthesized $TiO_2@SiO_2$ and $ZnO@SiO_2$ NPs were characterized by UV-Vis, XRD, SEM and TEM. The UV-vis absorbance and transmittance spectra of core@shell NPs showed an efficient blocking effect in the UV region and more than 90% transmittance in the visible region. XRD and SAED studies confirmed the formation of amorphous $SiO_2$ coated over the $TiO_2$ and ZnO NPs. The FESEM and TEM images shows that coating of $SiO_2$ over the surface of anatase, rutile $TiO_2$ and ZnO NPs resulted in the increase in particle size by ~30 nm. In order to study the UV light shielding capability of the samples, photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye on $TiO_2@SiO_2$ and $ZnO@SiO_2$ NPs was performed. Photocatalytic activity for both types of $TiO_2$ NPs was partially suppressed. In comparison, the photocatalytic activity of ZnO almost vanished after the $SiO_2$ coating.