Effect of annealing temperatures of immobilized PANI/TIO₂ system

Abstract

In this study, PANI and TiO₂ were prepared by using simple mixing of soluble PANI and TiO₂ powder and being coated onto glass plate. Some of binders such as polyvinylchloride were used. From the different loading study, it showed that optimum amount of PANI/TiO₂ loading was 0.04 g and this value has been fixed before the systems were subjected to different annealing temperatures. As observed, low annealed temperature at 50 ˚C showed the best percentage removal by decreasing to 35.83 % for one hour degradation. As increasing the annealing to the higher temperatures, the removal of dyes were started to slow down. This can be evidence by decrements of percentage removal of dye at 200˚C. As the annealing temperature 50˚C act as good for degradation, the absorbance was observed based on the sample that use to annealed at 50˚C to know which much better have good degradation for before and after washing. Moreover, photocatalytic activity efficiency will be enhanced in the presence of oxygen as oxygen is essential element in the activity. It can produce superoxide radicals that will attack on dye molecules and contribute higher reaction of photocatalyst. SEM micrograph of PANI/TiO₂ annealed at 150˚C showed better images as the mixing material is homogenous and dispersed well. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) indicated the presence of PANI particles in the macromolecules and there is strong interaction between them in the composite. The peak and time for degradation of PANI/TiO₂ was investigated by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).