Photocatalytic investigation of sandwiched TiO2/SiO2 films stuffed with tailored silica and silver nanoparticles

Transparent SiO2/TiO2 films prepared by an electrochemically assisted procedure were modified with silica and Ag nanoparticles in order to promote their photocatalytic activity. The obtained materials were extensively characterized from the morphological, compositional, optical and electronic points of view. Their photocatalytic activity was tested under UV and solar light for the gas phase degradation of VOCs and of fluorinated alkyl chain silanes adsorbed at the film surface. The effect of the morphological and electronic properties of the materials on their photocatalytic activity is discussed.