Preparation and characterization of titania supported on layered double hydroxide precipitated on glass fiber cloth

Support of titania nanoparticles on platy particles of a layered double hydroxide (LDH) on glass fiber cloth (GFC) is demonstrated. MgAl-LDH was deposited onto the GFC surface via homogenous precipitation using urea hydrolysis in the presence of GFC. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images, and elemental analyses revealed that MgAl-LDH platy particles were deposited and vertically aligned on the GFC surfaces, forming MgAl-LDH-coated GFC. The resultant specimen was soaked in a water dispersion of P25 standard, a well-known titania photocatalyst, for 5 min at room temperature and then extensively washed with an excess of water. The presence of P25 nanoparticles on the MgAl-LDH platy particles on GFC surfaces was evidenced by FE-SEM imaging, elemental analyses, and MB decomposition experiments in which an MB solution showed a greater decrease in concentration under 365 nm irradiation in the presence of the supported P25 than in the presence of MgAl-LDH-coated GFC and GFC subjected to the P25 deposition procedure without MgAl-LDH deposition. In addition, FE-SEM images and elemental analysis of the supported P25 specimen showed only small differences before and after the MB experiment. Therefore, the results mentioned above show the facile support of P25 on MgAl-LDH supported on a GFC surface.