Electrodeposited nano-titania films for photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction

Abstract In the present paper the photocatalytic performance toward Cr(VI) reduction by different titania films, both commercial and home-made, electrodeposited by previously optimized electrophoretic method (EPD), was investigated. Such immobilized particles could be used for practical industrial applications, avoiding high costs and tedious final filtration steps. Total Cr(VI) disappearance was achieved for all the tested titania materials. Moreover, a novel environmentally friendly voltammetric technique adopting innovative bismuth screen-printed electrodes was employed for the determination of Cr(VI) in solution. The new mercury-free method offers several advantages from high sensitivity and low detection limits (at the μg/L level) to portability, low cost and negligible matrix interferences.