Photocatalytic ethylene decomposition using porous titania thin film formed by pulsed laser deposition

Photocatalytic oxidation using titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is an effective approach for ethylene degradation due to its chemical stability and non-toxicity. In this study, we show that nanostructured TiO₂ thin films can be fabricated via pulsed laser deposition (PLD) under rather high oxygen pressures, and their photocatalytic ethylene decomposition performance was evaluated. The structural and morphological characteristics of the thin films were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), grayscale analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. The results indicate a strong dependence of photocatalytic efficiency on the oxygen pressure during the deposition process. SEM and Raman spectroscopy analyses confirm that porous TiO₂ nanostructures were formed at oxygen pressures of 20 Pa and above, significantly increasing the active surface area. Subsequent calcination improved the crystallinity, resulting in a stable anatase phase and enhanced charge separation, thereby improving photocatalytic performance. These findings demonstrate that PLD is an effective method for fabricating TiO₂-based photocatalysts, enabling the optimization of deposition parameters through tunable nanostructures to enhance gas-phase photocatalytic efficiency.