Microstructural and photocatalytic characterization of cement-paste sol-gel synthesized titanium dioxide

doi:10.1007/s11709-015-0326-6

Front. Struct. Civ. Eng.

2016, Vol. 10

Issue (2) : 189-197 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11709-015-0326-6

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Microstructural and photocatalytic characterization of cement-paste sol-gel synthesized titanium dioxide

Elena CERRO-PRADA^1,^*(

),Miguel MANSO²,Vicente TORRES²,Jesús SORIANO³

1. Civil Engineering Department, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Alfonso XII 3, Madrid 28014, Spain
2. Applied Physics Department, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
3. Laboratory of Materials, CEDEX, Ministerio de Fomento de Espa?a, Alfonso XII, Madrid 28014, Spain

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Abstract

A route for the in paste synthesis of TiO₂ loaded cement is described. TiO₂ sols are blended with fresh cement paste as an alternative process to add photocatalytic functionality to cement. The modification of cement paste structure after the addition of TiO₂ sols is analyzed by XRD, SEM and TGA. As a particular microstructural feature, TiO₂ containing calcium silicate hydrate (C-H-S) particles are identified as networking centers of a C-S-H gel fiber matrix. The increase of the TiO₂ sol concentration induces a decrease of pore size and an increase in the specific surface area in the cement composites. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO₂/cement system is evaluated from the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) under UV irradiation, monitored through the absorbance at 665 nm. The results show that, although TiO₂ phases reveal no long range order structure, the cement paste exothermal treatment in presence of hydrate products and alkaline conditions leads to a photocatalytic composite. Such new cement matrix may be twofold advantageous since it additionally promotes the formation of C-S-H gel, main determinant of cement mechanical properties.

Keywords cement composites photocatalytic TiO₂ sol-gel C-S-H gel microstructure

Corresponding Author(s): Elena CERRO-PRADA

Online First Date: 01 December 2015 Issue Date: 11 May 2016

Cite this article:

Elena CERRO-PRADA,Miguel MANSO,Vicente TORRES, et al. Microstructural and photocatalytic characterization of cement-paste sol-gel synthesized titanium dioxide[J]. Front. Struct. Civ. Eng., 2016, 10(2): 189-197.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fsce/EN/10.1007/s11709-015-0326-6
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fsce/EN/Y2016/V10/I2/189

Tab.1 Experimental conditions for TiO₂/CEM samples prepared

Fig.1 XRD diffractograms of the CONTROL and TiO₂/CEM samples hydrated at 20°C for 7 days. P: Portlandite, C: Calcite, E: Ettringite, G: Gypsum

Tab.2 EDX analysis of selected regions in SEM micrographs from theTiO₂/CEM 1:10 sample. Processing option: Oxygen by stoichiometry (Normalized). Number of ions calculation based on 8.00 anions per formula. Composition (% wt.)

Fig.2 SEM micrographs of the TiO₂ sol loaded cement paste after 7 days hydration time. (a) Sample TiO₂/CEM 1:10000, (b) sample TiO₂/CEM 1:1000, (c) sample TiO₂/CEM 1:100, (d) sample TiO₂/CEM 1:10. SEM micrographs of CONTROL sample after 28 days hydration time showing (e) a formation of portlandite crystal in the cement paste and a (f) detail of fibrillar C-S-H. Regions A, B in (a) were used to EDX analysis showed in Table 2.

Fig.3 Thermogravimetric analysis (DTA (a) and TGA (b)) of the CONTROL specimen (initial cement paste) and the TiO₂-sol containing specimens at various concentrations

Fig.4 Degree of hydration (a) and C-S-H content (b) of the CONTROL specimen (initial cement paste) and the TiO₂ sol containing specimens at various concentrations. Solid lines are aid to the eye

Fig.5 Evolution of MB concentration with time for CONTROL cement and different TiO₂ addition levels. Solid lines represent the exponential decay fitting for each set of values. Inset: Absorption spectrum of MB aqueous solution

Fig.6 (a) Speed of MB degradation versus TiO₂ doping level in TiO₂/Cement samples; (b) Pseudo-second-order kinetics approach for MB degradation in TiO₂/Cement system at different addition levels.

Tab.3 Photodegradation kinetic parameters of MB on sol TiO₂ doped cement paste

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