Preparation and characterization of transparent TiO2 thin films coated on fused-silica substrates

The transparent TiO₂ thin films coated on fused-SiO₂ substrates were prepared by the sol–gel method and spin-coating technique. Effects of calcination temperature on crystal structure, grain size, surface texture, and light transmittance of the films were investigated. After calcining at 600–1,200 °C, the thicknesses of the TiO₂ films were all around 80 nm and the molecular structures of the films were anatase, even at 1,200 °C. The calcined TiO₂ films had the ultraviolet light (wavelength 200–400 nm) transmittances of ≤29% and the visible light (wavelength 400–800 nm) transmittance of ≥72%. By photocatalytically decomposing the methylene blue (MB) in water, the photocatalytic activities of the TiO₂ thin films were measured and represented using the characteristic time constant (τ) for the MB degradation. While the films prepared at 1,000 and 1,200 °C photodecomposed about 54 mol% of the MB in water (the corresponding τ ≈ 14.8 h) after exposing to 365-nm UV light for 12 h, the films prepared at 600 and 800 °C had smaller τ (≈9.0 h) and photodecomposed about 74 mol% of the MB in water at the same testing conditions.     

Fabrication and characterization of thin films of single-walled carbon nanotube bundles on flexible plastic substrates

A convenient method to obtain patterns of films of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) bundles on flexible plastic is described. Using the Line Patterning method SWNT films of thickness ranging from approximately 300-1500 nm can be obtained from aqueous surfactant-supported dispersions of chemically purified SWNT bundles synthesized by the pulsed-laser ablation method. These films are strongly adherent and are competitive in performance with commercially available films of indium-tin-oxide (ITO) on plastics. For example, an approximately 1500 thick film of SWNT on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) shows a surface resisitvity of approximately 80 Omega/sq, optical transparency >80%, and robust flexibility. Unlike ITO/PET, films of SWNT/PET can be folded and bent to a crease without cracking. The simple techniques involoved in obtaining these films (i.e., those without requiring lithography or ink-jet printing) could help facilitate the rapid fabrication of transparent, flexible electronic devices, heralding what promises to be a new approach towards the development of next-generation optoelectronic devices.     

Preparation of TiO2 thin films using water-soluble titanium complexes and their photoinduced properties

Titanium dioxide thin films were prepared by using four water-soluble titanium complexes of titanium-lactate, tartalate, malate and salicylate complex solutions. The crystalline phases detected in the films were anatase. The surface microstructures of the four film samples were different in their grain sizes. Photocatalytic decomposition activity of the four films was almost the same, but their photoinduced hydrophilicities were different. The film prepared using titanium-salicylate complex exhibited lower hydrophilic conversion rate than the other films. Grain size and stress yielded to the film are considered to be important factors on the photoinduced hydrophilicity.     

Preparation and characterization of silver and indium vanadate co-doped TiO2 thin films as visible-light-activated photocatalyst

Novel visible-light-activated photocatalytic Ag/InVO₄-TiO₂ thin films were developed in this paper through a sol-gel method from the TiO₂ sol containing Ag and InVO₄. The photocatalytic activities of Ag/InVO₄-TiO₂ thin films were investigated based on the oxidation decomposition of methyl orange in aqueous solution. The Ag/InVO₄-TiO₂ thin films were characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis). The results revealed that the Ag/InVO₄-TiO₂ thin films extended the light absorption spectrum toward the visible region; the Ag and InVO₄ co-doped thin films significantly enhanced the methyl orange photodegradation under visible light irradiation. It has been confirmed that the Ag/InVO₄-TiO₂ thin films could be excited by visible light (E < 3.2 eV). The significant enhancement in the Ag/InVO₄-TiO₂ photo activity under visible light irradiation can be ascribed to the simultaneous effects of doped noble metal Ag by acting as electron traps and InVO₄ as narrow band gap sensitizer.     

Preparation and characterization of thin TiO2-films on gold/mica

Flat and highly (111) oriented gold and silver films were prepared by physical vapour deposition (PVD) using optimized deposition parameters. On these films, which were characterized with atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), titanium dioxide films were deposited by electron beam evaporation and dip coating. Dip coating from titanium tetraisopropoxide solutions resulted in films with different morphology and coverage depending on the alkoxide concentration (0.009 mol/L – 0.60 mol/L) and the post-treatment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and AFM revealed that the deposited TiO₂ consists of amorphous, highly porous islands when the applied alkoxide concentration is high (0.05 mol/L – 0.6 mol/L). At higher temperatures these amorphous TiO₂ islands sintered significantly and crystallized to anatase. In contrast, transparent TiO₂ films were obtained from low concentrated alkoxide solutions (< 0.01 mol/L) which covered the whole substrate, similar to electron beam evaporated thin films. Sputter profiles with ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS) indicated that the film thickness is in the range of 2 nm when alkoxide solutions with a concentration of 9 mmol/L are used. The deposition of TiO₂ by electron beam evaporation normally resulted in significantly reduced TiO₂ films, completely oxidized ones were obtained when deposition was performed at elevated oxygen partial pressures (p(O₂) > 2 × 10^–5 mbar).     

Correlation between dispersion properties of TiO2 colloidal sols and photoelectric characteristics of TiO2 films

TiO2 film for use as dye-sensitized solar cell was prepared using the TiO2 colloidal sols (unpeptized sol and peptized sol). The optical properties and photocurrent-voltage characteristics of the resultant films were investigated. The optical transmittance of TiO2 thin film prepared from the peptized colloidal sol was over 90%, while that of TiO2 film from the unpeptized sol was under 80%. The TiO2 photoelectrode prepared from the peptized colloidal sol showed low photoelectric conversion efficiency (eta), 1.30%, whereas the efficiency of photoelectrode from the unpeptized sol was 2.21%. The high optical transmittance and low conversion efficiency of TiO2 film from the peptized sol are discussed in terms of dense microstructure due to the drying nature of well-dispersed colloidal sol.     

Preparation and characterization of antimony-doped SnO2 thin films on gold and silver substrates for electrochemical and surface plasmon resonance studies

The paper reports on the deposition of thin antimony (Sb)-doped SnO₂ films onto gold and silver substrates using magnetron sputtering. The influence of the SnO₂:Sb film on the electrochemical and surface plasmon resonance properties is investigated. The best results in terms of stability, electrochemical and plasmonic characteristics are obtained for SnO₂:Sb of 8.5 nm thickness deposited on silver substrates.     

Preparation of cellulose-ZnO hybrid films by a wet chemical method and their characterization

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were immobilized on the surface of regenerated cellulose films by a wet chemical method in which the controlled hydrolysis of a Zn(II)-amine complex leads to the formation of ZnO nanoparticles. Cellulose-ZnO materials were characterized by spectral, thermal and optical methods. Scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope analyses confirmed the formation of ZnO nanoparticles on the surface of the regenerated cellulose film and X-ray diffraction patterns showed the ZnO had the wurtzite structure. The reported method is very simple, and can immobilize the nanoparticles without the aid of a binder or dendritic side group and without high temperature treatments like calcination. ZnO immobilized on biopolymers like cellulose has many potential applications such as strain sensors, biomedical sensors, flexible display devices and optoelectronics.     

Preparation and nonlinear optical properties of Au nanoparticles doped TiO2 thin films

Nano-sized noble metal nanoparticles doped dielectric composite films with large third-order nonlinear susceptibility due to the confinement and the enhancement of local field were considered to be applied for optical information processing devices, such as optical switch or all optical logical gates. In this paper, sol–gel titania thin films doped with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs, ~10 nm in average size) were prepared. AuNPs were firstly synthesized from HAuCl₄ in aqueous solution at ~60 °C, using trisodium citrate as the reducing agent, polyvinylpyrrolidone as the stable agent; then the particle size and optical absorption spectra of the AuNPs in aqueous solutions were characterized by transmitting electron microscopy and UV–Vis–NIR spectrometry. Sol–gel 2AuNPs–100TiO₂ (in %mol) thin films (5 layers, ~1 μm in thickness) were deposited on silica glass slides by multilayer dip-coating. After heat-treated at 300–1,000 °C in air, the AuNPs–TiO₂ thin films were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The nonlinear optical properties of the AuNPs–TiO₂ thin films were measured with the Z-scan technique, using a femtosecond laser (200 fs) at the wavelength of 800 nm. The third-order nonlinear refractive index and nonlinear absorption coefficient of 2AuNPs–100TiO₂ films were at the order of 10^?12 cm²/W, and the order of 10^?6 cm/W, respectively, and the third-order optical nonlinear susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ was ~6.88 × 10^?10 esu.     

Preparation of chemically sintered ZnO films and their application in dye sensitized solar cells formed on plastic substrates

Meso-porous zinc oxide films were prepared on tin-doped indium oxide-coated, polyethelene naphthalate substrates from binder-free ZnO slurry. The reaction with ammonium hydroxide was found to increase connection between ZnO grains by forming a nano-rod like structure followed by heating at 150 °C. The enhancement of adhesion among ZnO grains was evaluated using a nano-scratch technique. Two different xanthene dyes were used to sensitize ZnO electrodes, with a photo-voltage of 657 mV, fill-factor of 73% and photo-current of 4.1 mA cm⁻² with a maximum light to-electrical energy conversion efficiency of 2.0% being obtained for the plastic based ZnO|mercurochrome|electrolyte solar cell under 1 sun.     

Preparation and photoelectrochemical characterization of nano-particulate TiO2 and polyaniline composite films on Au

TiO₂ and polyaniline(PANI) composite film was obtained by electrochemical methods^[1] and investigated for solar energy conversion application. A strong rectifying effect was found in the cyclic voltammogram of the film in dark when the scan speed was slow enough (5 mV/s) and a quasi-reversible voltammogram of the film was observed when the scan speed was fast (100 mV/s). The results of both the cyclic voltammograms and the SEM images of the composite film show that the PANI film is almost completely covered with nano-particulate TiO₂. Two anodic photocurrent bands and a cathodic band was observed in the spectra of the photocurrent of the TiO₂/PANI/PATP(p-aminothiophenol)/Au film in 0.05 mol/L Fe(CN)₆^3-/Fe(CN)₆^4- solution. The band at 300~400 nm (3.1~4.1 eV) can be ascribed to the photocurrent band of TiO₂ particles and the bands at 450~730 nm (1.7~2.8 eV) can be ascribed to those of the PANI. The partially-oxidized PANI has internal photoemission function and the insulating matrix of PANI is verified to be reduced PANI with a 3.33 eV bandgap energy. The flat-band potentials of partially-oxidized PANI and TiO₂/PANI composite film in 1.0 mol/LHClO₄ solution are determined as 0.87 V and 0.09(SHE) from Mott-Schottky plots, respectively.     

TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized in an aprotic solvent and applied to prepare high-refractive-index TiO2-polyimide hybrid thin films

In this study, very small (2–5 nm) TiO₂ nanoparticles were synthesized in an aprotic solvent, N,N-dimethylacetamide, via hydrolysis and condensation of titanium alkoxide at room temperature. The synthesized TiO₂ sol showed 30 days of storage stability and could be used to prepare high-refractive-index TiO₂-polyimide hybrid thin films by an ex-situ method that involved a spin coating and multistep baking process. The field emission scanning electron microscope image showed a flat and uniform morphology of the hybrid thin film. TiO₂ domains were in the nanometer range, thus avoiding light scattering. The refractive index at 633 nm of the hybrid thin film reached 2.05, which suggested potential applications of the film to anti-reflective coatings and optical waveguides.     

Preparation and characterization of plasma-polymerized styrene thin films

Plasma-polymerized styrene (PPS) thin films (several hundred to several thousand Å thick) have been prepared under a variety of discharge conditions in a tubular reactor inductively coupled to a radio frequency (13.56 MHz) power supply. Studies have focussed on the correlation of deposited polymer structure, evidenced both at the film surface (via XPS analysis) and in the bulk polymer (via transmission FT–IR analysis) with controllable plasma parameters (coupled rf power, monomer flow rate, monomer pressure). It has been determined that the relative number of phenyl rings incorporated into the film intact is an inverse function of the power per styrene molecule ratio. Polymer deposition rate was found to be a strong function of styrene flow rate and substrate temperature. Plausible elements of the styrene plasma polymerization mechanism will be considered.     

Preparation and photoactivity of nanostructured anatase, rutile and brookite TiO2 thin films

Photoactive films consisting of pure anatase, brookite or rutile TiO2 were prepared by dip coating from water dispersions obtained by using TiCl4 as the precursor under similar mild experimental conditions.     

Preparation and characterization of CoFe2O4/TiO2 magnetic composite films

CoFe₂O₄/TiO₂ magnetic composite films were prepared using the sol-gel method with tetrabutyltitanate and metallic chlorates as starting materials. The effects of heat treatment temperatures on microstructures and on magnetic properties were studied. The microstructure and properties of the samples at different heat treatment temperatures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectrum, scanning electron microscopy, polarized microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. The results show that crystals of different substances grow up independently. Cobalt ferrite is evenly embedded into the titanium dioxide matrix in the prepared composite films. The magnetism of the composite films is enhanced with an increase of the heat temperature.     

Preparation of large-pore mesoporous nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films with tailored pore diameters

A novel and facile synthesis route to large-pore mesoporous nanocrystalline anatase thin films with tunable pore diameters in narrow distribution of sizes ranging from 8.3 to 14 nm is reported, using triblock copolymer as the template and Ti(OBu(n))4 as the inorganic precursor. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption. A reasonable formation mechanism is also presented in this work.     

Low-temperature synthesis of photocatalytic TiO2 thin film from aqueous anatase precursor sols

Anatase TiO₂ sols (RS) were synthesized by peptizing the hydrolysis of titanyl sulfate in abundant hydrogen peroxide solution and subsequent reflux to enhance crystallization. The influences of various reflux time on crystallinity, morphology, and size of the obtained TiO₂ sol and dried TiO₂ film particles were investigated. At room temperature, crystalline TiO₂ thin film was deposited on glass silde from the as prepared TiO₂ sol by dip-coating method. No further thermal posttreatment was required to eliminate organics from the film or to induce titania crystallization. TiO₂ thin film on substrates could be thickened by means of consecutive dip-coating process. Titania film thus obtained was transparent and showed proper adherence. The photocatalytic activities of the TiO₂ thin film was assessed by the degradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution. The preparation process of photocatalytic TiO₂ thin film was quite simple and a low-temperature route.     

Preparation and characterization of thin films of SiO(x) on gold substrates for surface plasmon resonance studies

We report here on the fabrication and characterization of stable thin films of amorphous silica (SiO(x)) deposited on glass slides coated with a 5 nm adhesion layer of titanium and 50 nm of gold, using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique. The resulting surfaces were characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), ellipsometry, contact angle measurements, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). AFM analysis indicates that homogeneous films of silica with low roughness were formed on the gold surface. The deposited silica films showed excellent stability in different solvents and in piranha solution. There was no significant variation in the thickness or in the SPR signal after these harsh treatments. The Au/SiO(x) interfaces were investigated for their potential applications as new surface plasmon resonance sensor chips. Silica films with thicknesses up to 40 nm allowed visualization of the surface plasmon effect, while thicker films resulted in the loss of the SPR characteristics. SPR allowed further the determination of the silica thickness and was compared to ellipsometric results. Chemical treatment of the SiO(x) film with piranha solution led to the generation of silanol surface groups that have been coupled with a trichlorosilane.     

Preparation and characterization of polyfluoroaniline/organosiloxane hybrid films

Polyfluoroaniline (PFANI)/organosiloxane hybrid films were directly prepared from PFANI emulsions and γ-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) through a sol–gel method. The influence of GPTMS/FANI molar ratios on the morphology and properties of PFANI/GPTMS hybrid films was characterized by fourier-transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, thermo gravimetric, contact angle measurement and potentiodynamic polarization analysis. It was found that the hybrid films are highly water repellent. In addition, increasing the GPTMS content could significantly improve the thermal behavior and corrosion resistant ability of the hybrid films. However, the water repellency decreases slowly as the GPTMS/FANI molar ratio increases.