Abstract
In the present work, the effect of individual additives calculated as molar fractions of Sb2O3 and CeO2 (x Sb 2O3 range: 0.03–0.08 %, x CeO 2 range: 0.05–0.14 %), on the phase composition, phase transformation, and optical properties of photostable rutile titanium dioxide was studied using selective leaching method, ICP-AES technique, XRD method, spectrophotometric analysis and S BET measurements. The starting material was hydrated titanium dioxide. It was observed that the addition of Sb2O3 to TiO2 did not influence the anatase-rutile phase transformation, but increasing the CeO2 addition caused a decrease in the rutilization degree. Thus, CeO2 acted as an inhibitor of the TiO2 phase transformation. Sb2O3 addition to TiO2 presumably caused the formation of a co-phase of Sb with Ti. Cerium formed a separate phase, CeO2, and reacted partly with titanium, probably creating co-phase, Ce0.8Ti0.2O2. Comparing the colour of modified rutile titanium dioxide according to the type of the additive introduced, it was found that TiO2 with CeO2 had higher brightness but lower white tone values when compared with TiO2 modified with Sb2O3. The relative lightening power and grey tone of the modified TiO2 were higher in TiO2 modified with Sb2O3. The values of the photocatalytic activity measured in all TiO2 samples modified either with Sb2O3 or CeO2 were very similar and varied around the value of 21.