Photocatalytic and Pozzolanic Properties of Nano-SiO2/Al2O3-TiO2 Powder for Functional Mortar

Abstract

The present study intended to find a way to use TiO2, one of the most widely used photocatalysts, as a construction material. To that end, nano-SiO2/Al2O3-TiO2 powder (NTCP) was synthesized by coating SiO2 and Al2O3 support materials with TiO2. The NTCP was anatase phase spherical particles, specific surface areas were 319 m2/g and 267 m2/g for the SiO2-TiO2 powder and Al2O3-TiO2 powder. UV absorption test results showed the developed NTCP had a light absorption peak at wavelengths of 380 nm or below, and its absorbance was much larger than that of commercial TiO2. The NTCP formed smaller pores on the surface than commercial TiO2. As a result, the flow of the mortar decreased as the adsorption strength increased and combined a large number of water molecules. In addition, the Pozzolanic reaction by SiO2 and Al2O3 used as support materials produced many calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) and calcium aluminate hydrate (C-A-H). This has shown an increased strength of mortar mixed with the NTCP by promoting a nucleation effect and reducing the filling effect and the number of harmful holes in the mortar.