Abstract
Abstract Layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly TiO2/Poly(L-Dopa) (PDopa) thin films on soda lime glass slides with good transparency, controlled roughness and thickness have been successfully prepared under mild conditions and simple process. The obtained LbL P25/PDopa multilayer thin films were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The characterization revealed the linear growth of nanoscale thickness, porous surface morphology and nanosized NPs. Photocatalytic activities were tested under UV (352 nm) irradiation. The effects of layer deposition time, number of bilayers and total deposition time were studied and compared. LbL P25/PDopa multilayer thin films demonstrated a thickness-dependent photocatalytic performance with excellent reusability towards the degradation of Sulforhodamine B (SRB). The photocatalytic performance can be further enhanced by simple treatment with Ag+. The LbL P25/PDopa multilayer thin films had similar photocatalytic performance with LbL P25/PAA multilayer thin films. The influence of using TiO2 NPs with different particle size and surface zeta potential has also been studied.