Effect of crystalline orientation on photocatalytic performance for Nb-doped TiO2 nanoparticles

Abstract Crystalline-oriented thick films have been fabricated with using plasma-synthesized (0–20.0 at.%) Nb-doped TiO2 powder by slip casting method in a strong magnetic field (12 T). Degree of c-axis orientation of the fabricated thick film was evaluated by Lotgering factor (f). The orientation degree along c-axis was improved by sintering at 600 °C, but was deteriorated at 700 °C. Photocatalytic performance under the UV light irradiation was conducted on the film surface and was determined by bleaching methyl orange aqueous solution. The improvement in the photocatalytic performance was greatly attributed to the dominated crystalline-orientation of the (0 0 1) plane for the Nb-doped TiO2.