TiO2 porous films were prepared on ITO coated glass slides by the sol-gel dip-coating method assisted with Polyethylene glycol (PEG). The films were used as photo-anodes in the photo-assisted electrolytic removal of cuprous ions in cyanide media. These were characterized by SEM, UV-Visible spectroscopy and XRD. The PEG modified films were free of cracks and developed a porous structure after heat treatment at 500 ºC, due to the thermal decomposition of the structure associated PEG. It was demonstrated that the photo-assisted electrochemical reduction of copper is promoted by the use of modified TiO2 films as photo-anodes, thanks to the greater surface area given by the PEG decomposition. However, the film thickness was found to be a critical factor in the process, to such an extent that films composed of 5 layers were completely inefficient, meaning that despite the open porosity, multilayered films acted as a barrier within the photo-electrolytic process.

Titanium dioxide porous thin films on the Anatase phase were deposited onto glass slides by the sol-gel method assisted with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The dip-coated films were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG), UV-visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The photocatalytic activity of the films was determined by means of methyl-orange oxidation tests. The resultant PEG-modified films were crack-free and developed a porous structure after calcination at 500 °C. Photo-oxidation tests showed the dependency of catalytic activity of the films on the number of layers (thickness) and porosity, i.e. of the interfacial area.

The influence of Anatasa/Rutile ratio on TiO2 films, grown by electrophoretic deposition was studied in the photoassisted electrolytic copper ions removal from cyanide solutions. The proper dispersant dosage allowing the simultaneous electrophoretic deposition of Anatase and Rutile was chosen based on electrokinetic measurements; evidenced by the XRD spectra of the formed films. The evaluation of films photoassisted electrolytic copper ion removal showeds that it is possible to enhance the activity of Anatase films by adding some Rutile exploiting the synergetic interaction between these two materials, achieve by its proper deposition.