Journal of Advanced Materials in Engineering (Esteghlal)

Titanium dioxide-nickel oxide porous coatings were synthesized by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO)/ ElectroPhoretic Deposition (EPD) in one step and within a short time. The main purpose of this research was to increase photocatalytic activity of titanium oxide by increasing surface area and coupling of titanium oxide with nickel oxide. Applied voltage effects on phase structure, surface morphology and photocatalytic efficiency of coatings were studied. Phase structure and surface morphology of the synthesized catalysts were investigated by XRD and SEM, respectively. Photocatalytic efficiency of the samples was studied through measuring the decomposition rate of 4-chlorophenol. The results showed that the coatings mainly consisted of anatase and nickel oxide phases whose amounts in coatings increased with the voltage. There was an enhancement of the photocatalytic efficiency in TiO₂/NiO composite coatings compared with TiO₂ coatings. Besides, there was an optimum amount of NiO to reach maximum photocatalytic efficiently.

Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD) weight is highly affected by electrophoretic mobility of powders in suspension. In theoretical aspect, electrophoretic mobility is influenced by suspension viscosity in opposite direction, and increasing in viscosity can decrease electrophoretic mobility and consequently can decrease EPD weight. In non-aqueous suspension, viscosity is determined by ion strengths of suspension. In this study, viscosity, electrical conductivity and deposit weight were determined for electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of alumina suspended in ethanolic solvent of Y-, Mg-, Ce- and La- salts, prepared in dispersant level between 350 to 1350 ppm. The concentration of XCly, (X: Mg, Y, Ce and La), is also found to be a critical factor to control  the viscosity. It is shown that the deposit weight is influenced by precursor concentration, and on the other hand, electrical conductivity, viscosity or the pH of the suspension cannot change the yield. All concentrations interactions, except Mg × Ce concentration are significant in ANOVA model. The viscosity of suspension reached 2.5 mPa.s with Mg-, Y-, La- and Ce- decreased to 100, 100, 100 and 0 ppm in low iodine concentration (400 ppm). The reason is that heavier cations can be adsorbed to alumina surface with iodine adsorption, but lighter Mg- cations can be adsorbed under the influence of OH groups excited on alumina surface.