Effect of high roughness on a long aging time of superhydrophilic TiO₂ nanoparticle thin films

TiO₂ nanoparticle thin films with a high roughness were successfully deposited on quartz substrates by a sparking process. To obtain a uniform film thickness, the substrate was moved raster-like across an area of 1 × 1 cm² by the x-y scanning stage. Effects of annealing temperatures on surface morph...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current applied physics 2011-01, Vol.11 (5), p.1237-1242
Main Authors: Thongsuwan, W, Kumpika, T, Singjai, P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Annealing
atomic force microscopy
chemical structure
Contact angle
Nanomaterials
nanoparticles
Nanostructure
Photocatalysis
photolysis
quartz
Raman spectroscopy
Roughness
surface temperature
Thin films
Titanium dioxide
transmission electron microscopy
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Summary:TiO₂ nanoparticle thin films with a high roughness were successfully deposited on quartz substrates by a sparking process. To obtain a uniform film thickness, the substrate was moved raster-like across an area of 1 × 1 cm² by the x-y scanning stage. Effects of annealing temperatures on surface morphology, chemical structure, photocatalytic and wetting properties were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy and contact angle measurement, respectively. The sample annealed at the optimum temperature of 500 °C shows the highest RMS roughness, photocatalytic activity and also the lowest water contact angle. An optimum anatase/rutile ratio and maximum RMS roughness were believed to be the reason for the above results. In contrast with most previous reports, the films prepared by this process remain highly superhydrophilic after 5 weeks without UV exposure.
ISSN:1567-1739
1878-1675
DOI:10.1016/j.cap.2011.03.002