Sol-Gel ceramic glazes with photocatalytic activity

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Ceramic Engineering
• Photocatalysis

Background:

• Traditional ceramic frits require pre-fusion to immobilize soluble/toxic components.
• Ceramic glazes are applied to ceramic bodies for waterproofing and aesthetics.
• Conventional frits are used in single-firing glazes at temperatures around 1080°C.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel multicomponent frits using Sol-Gel methods, bypassing the pre-fusion step.
• To investigate the photocatalytic properties of these novel frits.
• To analyze the effect of doping agents on frit properties.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of zinc-potassium borosilicate frits via Sol-Gel (monophasic and polyphasic) methods without pre-fusion.
• Characterization of frit behavior for single-firing glazes at 1080°C.
• Evaluation of photocatalytic activity, specifically degradation of Orange II dye.
• Doping with bandgap modifiers (V2O5, Sb2O5, SnO2) and devitrification agents (ZrO2, Al2O3, Mo2O3, ZnO).

Main Results:

• Sol-Gel derived multicomponent frits exhibit properties similar to conventional frits for single-firing glazes.
• The prepared frits demonstrated significant photocatalytic activity, effectively degrading Orange II.
• Doping with various agents influenced the crystalline phases and properties of the frits.

Conclusions:

• Sol-Gel synthesis offers a viable route to produce pre-fusion-free ceramic frits.
• These novel frits possess photocatalytic capabilities, opening avenues for functional ceramic applications.
• The study highlights the potential of doped zinc-potassium borosilicate frits as advanced ceramic materials.