Degrading methyl orange via prepare high dispersed TiO2/Al2O3 photocatalyst by combining anodizing and hydro-thermal technology

To improve the photocatalytic activity of titanium oxide, nanometer titanium oxide powder was mixed with a phosphoric acid solution to form an electrolyte for preparing TiO2/Al2O3 coating on the surface of an aluminum alloy. Hydrothermal technology has been used to adjust the crystalline structure of nanometer titanium oxide. Scanning electron microscope was used to observe the micromorphology of anodic coating before and after treatment using hydrothermal technology. Results indicated that the photocatalyst had a porous structure. Energy dispersive spectrometry, x-ray diffraction, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to confirm that titanium oxide was dispersed in the coating. The photocatalyst was used to degrade the methyl orange solution, and its absorbance before and after treatment by catalyst was tested by UV–vis spectroscopy. The results indicated that methyl orange could be degraded when the doping amount of titanium oxide is 8 g/l for 100 min.