Thickness effects in naturally superhydrophilic TiO2–SiO2 nanocomposite films deposited via a multilayer sol–gel route

TiO 2 –SiO 2 nanocomposite films of various thicknesses have been deposited via a multilayer sol–gel route. These films exhibit a natural and persistent superhydrophilicity, which allows considering new applications for easy to clean surfaces. Atomic force microscopy, scanning and transmission elect...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of sol-gel science and technology 2012-11, Vol.64 (2), p.465-479
Main Authors: Holtzinger, C., Rapenne, L., Chaudouët, P., Berthomé, G., Langlet, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aging (natural)
Atomic force microscopy
Ceramics
Chemical Sciences
Chemistry
Chemistry and Materials Science
Colloidal gels. Colloidal sols
Colloidal state and disperse state
Composites
Composition
Ellipsometry
Exact sciences and technology
General and physical chemistry
Glass
Hydrophilicity
Inorganic Chemistry
Material chemistry
Materials Science
Microscopy
Morphology
Multilayers
Nanocomposites
Nanotechnology
Natural Materials
Optical and Electronic Materials
Regeneration
Scanning electron microscopy
Silicon dioxide
Sol-gel processes
Thickness
Titanium dioxide
Transmission electron microscopy
Wettability
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Summary:TiO 2 –SiO 2 nanocomposite films of various thicknesses have been deposited via a multilayer sol–gel route. These films exhibit a natural and persistent superhydrophilicity, which allows considering new applications for easy to clean surfaces. Atomic force microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, as well as ellipsometry and UV/visible spectrometry measurements, were performed to study how the multilayer procedure influenced the morphology and composition of composite films in relation to their thickness. The natural and photo-induced wettability of these films was studied and discussed in relation to morphology, composition, and thickness features. It is concluded that, while such features did not significantly influence the natural wettability of nanocomposite films, their photo-induced wettability was considerably enhanced when increasing their thickness, which favored a faster superhydrophilicity photo-regeneration when this natural property started to disappear after a long aging period in ambient atmosphere.
ISSN:0928-0707
1573-4846
DOI:10.1007/s10971-012-2878-4