Surface properties and photocatalytic activity of nanocrystalline titania films

In this work the efficiency and physicochemical details of a thin film produced by help of a microwave assisted sol gel technique is compared to different commercial powders (Degussa P25 and Hombikat UV100) deposited on glass substrates. Furthermore, a supercritical produced TiO₂ powder (SC 134) was included in the comparison.The prepared TiO₂ films were characterized using XRD, XPS, AFM, DSC and DLS. The photocatalytic activity was determined using stearic acid as a model compound. Investigation of the prepared films showed that the Degussa P25 film and the sol–gel film were the most photocatalytic active films. The activity of the films was found to be related to the crystallinity of the TiO₂ film and the amount of surface area and surface hydroxyl groups. Based on the XPS investigation of the films before and after UV irradiation it was suggested that the photocatalytic destruction of organic matter on TiO₂ films proceeds partly through formation of hydroxyl radicals which are formed from surface hydroxyl groups created by interactions between adsorbed water and vacancies on the TiO₂ surface. Furthermore a correlation between the amount of OH groups on the surface of the different TiO₂ films and the photocatalytic activity was found.     

Effects of UV irradiation on tribological properties of nano‐TiO2 thin films

One‐layer and two‐layer nano‐TiO₂ thin films were prepared on the surface of common glass by sol–gel processing. Water contact angle, surface morphology, tribological properties of the films before and after ultraviolet (UV) irradiation were investigated using DSA100 drop shape analyzer, scanning probe microscopy (SPM), SEM and universal micro‐materials tester (second generation) (UMT‐2MT) friction and wear tester, respectively. The stored films markedly resumed their hydrophilicity after UV irradiation. But UV irradiation worsened tribological properties of the films. After the film was irradiated by UV, the friction coefficient between the film and GCr15 steel ball increased about 10–50% and its wear life shortened about 20–90%. Abrasive wear, brittle break and adherence wear are the failure mechanisms of nano‐TiO₂ thin films. It was believed that UV irradiation increased surface energy of the film and then aggravated adherence wear of the film at initial stage of friction process leading to severe brittle fracture and abrasive wear. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

总气压与Ar/O2流量比对直流对向靶磁控溅射TiO2薄膜光催化性能的影响

采用对向靶磁控溅射法在不同气压和Ar/O₂流量比条件下, 以氟化SnO₂ (FTO)导电玻璃为基底制备了多晶TiO₂薄膜. 台阶仪测量结果显示所制备TiO₂薄膜的平均厚度约为200 nm. 随着溅射气压的升高, TiO₂薄膜由锐钛矿与金红石混晶结构转变为纯锐钛矿结构. 分别采用场发射扫描电镜(FESEM)和原子力显微镜(AFM)分析了不同气压和Ar/O₂流量比对TiO₂薄膜表面形貌的影响, 结果显示TiO₂薄膜的表面粗糙度随溅射总气压和Ar/O₂流量比的增加而增大. 以初始浓度为100×10^-6 (体积分数)的异丙醇(IPA)气体为目标物检测所制备TiO₂薄膜的光催化性能, 并分析该气相光催化反应的机理, 在紫外照射条件下异丙醇先氧化为丙酮再被氧化为CO₂.当总溅射气压为2.0 Pa、Ar/O₂流量比为1:1时, 溅射所得TiO₂薄膜具备最优光催化活性并可在IPA降解反应中保持较高的催化活性和稳定性.     

Self‐organization and luminescent properties of nanostructured europium (III)–block copolymer complex thin films

We introduce a simple method to create nanosized, ordered, and highly luminescent thin film of Eu (III)–block copolymer complex. Micelles of polystyrene–block‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) (PS‐b‐P4VP) in P4VP‐selective solvents (ethanol/N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) mixture) serve as nanoreactors for the synthesis of Eu(III)–block copolymer complex with the presence of 1,10‐phenanthroline (Phen) as cooperative ligand. The resulted quaternary complexes were characterized by FT‐IR spectra, ¹⁵N NMR spectra, and elemental analysis, indicative of a composition of Eu(III)–(PS‐b‐P4VP)–Phen–5DMF. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy investigations reveal that the Eu(III)–(PS‐b‐P4VP)–Phen–5DMF complex can self‐organize into hexagonally ordered thin films when dip‐coated from the solution onto silicon or silica glass substrates. Such ordered thin films can emit red fluorescence of Eu³⁺ with strong intensity and long lifetime. This method can be easily extended to prepare other ordered luminescent rare earth–polymer complexes thin films. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 2181–2189, 2005     

In situ surface plasmon study of the electropolymerization of Fe(vbpy)3 onto a gold surface

Sequential multilayer electropolymerization of Fe(vbpy)₃²⁺ (vbpy=4-vinyl-4′-methyl-2,2′-bipyridine) onto a thin gold electrode was followed in situ with surface plasmon spectroscopy (SPS) using a 1 mW HeNe laser at 6328 Å. The robustness of the gold film electrode necessary for electrochemical deposition in 0.10 M tetraethylammonium perchlorate+acetonitrile is imparted by use of a thin film of 3-mercaptopropyl-trimethoxysilane attached to a SF10 slide to which the metal is covalently bonded. As each polymer layer is deposited by cycling a potentiostat from 0.0 to −1.75 and back to 0.0 V, a plasmon spectrum (reflectivity versus prism angle) is obtained. SP analysis of the angular shift of the spectrum, which increases as the polymer layer thickens, yields an estimate of both the thickness and index of refraction of the polymer film. We found that the plasmon spectrum shifts to higher angles as the polymer layer thickens, along with a progressive decrease in the depth of the resonance minimum. Our modeling shows this unusual spectral behavior involving the resonance minimum is consistent with a Fe(vbpy)₃²⁺ chromophore absorption at 6328 Å, along with thickening of the polymer film. This work demonstrates that SPS is a viable in situ technique for obtaining thickness measurements of electrodeposited thin films.     

可见光高催化活性GO/Ag3PO4/Ni复合薄膜的制备和性能

以磷酸铵和氧化石墨烯悬浊液的混合液为电解液,采用电化学共沉积法制备了Ag3PO4基GO/Ag3PO4/Ni复合薄膜。运用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、能量色散谱(EDS)、X射线衍射(XRD)、拉曼光谱(Raman)和紫外可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis DRS)等对其形貌、物相和光谱特性进行分析。最佳工艺制备的GO/Ag3PO4/Ni复合薄膜呈现出GO包覆在直径为100 nm左右的Ag3PO4纳米球外的表面形貌。GO片与Ag3PO4纳米球之间存在强电荷相互作用。与单独的Ag3PO4纳米球相比,GO片的附着导致带隙缩小,可见光区的吸收率增强。可见光下考察了复合薄膜降解罗丹明B的光催化活性和稳定性,并利用荧光光谱和捕获剂法对薄膜的光催化机理进行了探索。结果表明,GO片的加入不仅显著提高了Ag3PO4的光催化活性,而且提高了Ag3PO4的结构稳定性。光催化降解罗丹明B 60 min时,GO/Ag3PO4/Ni复合薄膜的降解率是Ag3PO4/Ni薄膜的1.32倍。在保持薄膜光催化活性基本不变的前提下可循环使用7次。GO优异的电荷传导性能,以及Ag3PO4纳米球与GO片之间的正协同效应是提高复合薄膜光催化性能的主要原因。     

Ni控制掺杂TiO2薄膜的光电化学及光催化活性

采用溶胶-凝胶法通过分步控制工艺制备了镍离子不同掺杂方式的TiO₂薄膜。通过甲基橙的光催化降解动力学来表征其光催化活性。结果表明：镍离子非均匀掺杂在掺杂量0.5%时可以明显增强TiO₂的光催化活性，而均匀掺杂提高TiO₂的光催化活性较小。光电化学表征结果显示：镍离子非均匀掺杂TiO₂薄膜的瞬时光电流信号较强，说明其光生载流子易于生成且分离效果较好；循环伏安曲线表明，光照时Ni非均匀掺杂的TiO₂薄膜改变了体系的氧化还原电位，说明了薄膜内建电场的建立。基于半导体的P-N结原理探讨了镍离子非均匀掺杂TiO₂薄膜的光催化活性机理。     

Light-emitting diodes based on poly(2,3-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene vinylene)

In this paper we report polymer light-emitting diodes based on (2,3-diphenyl-1,4-phenylene vinylene) (DP-PPV), a novel π-conjugated polymer made by using the chlorine precursor route (CPR). Thin films of the precursor polymer were formed by spin-casting on indium-tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates, followed by thermal conversion to give DP-PPV thin films. Single layer DP-PPV LEDs were completed by thermally evaporating magnesium (Mg) electrodes. The electroluminescent characteristics of ITO/DP-PPV/Mg devices as well as variations between precursor polymer batches are presented. Bilayer LEDs were also made, for which tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq₃) was thermally sublimed on the fully converted DP-PPV films in vacuum, followed by Mg deposition. Both significant improvement in the quantum efficiency (up to 0.7% ph/el) and a reduction in the turn-on voltage of the device were found upon incorporation of the Alq₃ layer. These observations suggest that Alq₃ enhances the injection of electrons and also participates in the recombination process. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of Pt loading on the photocatalytic reactivity of titanium oxide thin films prepared by ion engineering techniques

Platinum-loaded titanium oxide thin-film photocatalysts were prepared by using an ionized cluster beam (ICB) deposition method and a RF magnetron sputtering (RF-MS) deposition method as dry processes. From the results of the photocatalytic oxidation of acetaldehyde with O₂ under UV light irradiation, small amounts of Pt loading (less than 10 nm film thickness) were found to dramatically enhance the photocatalytic reactivity. However, when TiO₂ thin films were loaded with relatively larger amounts of Pt (more than 30 nm as the film thickness), the photocatalytic reactivity became lower than for the pure TiO₂ thin films. Moreover, investigations of the ratio of Pt loaded onto the surface of the thin film catalysts by XPS measurements revealed that the small amounts of Pt loaded exist as very small clusters working to efficiently enhance the charge separation, whereas, large amounts of Pt covers the entire surface of the TiO₂ thin films, resulting in a decrease of the photocatalytic reactivity.     

Ag2S/Ag3PO4/Ni复合薄膜的制备及其光催化性能

采用电化学方法制备Ag₂S/Ag₃PO₄/Ni复合薄膜,以扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、X射线衍射（XRD）、紫外-可见漫反射光谱（UV-Vis DRS）对薄膜的表面形貌、晶相结构、光谱特性及能带结构进行了表征,以罗丹明B为模拟污染物对薄膜的光催化活性和稳定性进行了测定,采用向溶液中加入活性物种捕获剂的方法对薄膜的光催化机理进行了探索。结果表明：最佳工艺制备的Ag₂S/Ag₃PO₄/Ni是由均匀的球形纳米颗粒构成的薄膜,其光催化活性明显优于纯Ag₃PO₄/Ni薄膜和纯Ag₂S/Ni薄膜,且在保持薄膜光催化活性基本不变的前提下可循环使用6次。提出了可见光下Ag₂S/Ag₃PO₄/Ni复合薄膜光催化降解罗丹明B的反应机理。     

Ag2S/Ag3PO4/Ni复合薄膜的制备及其光催化性能

采用电化学方法制备Ag_2S/Ag_3PO_4/Ni复合薄膜,以扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、紫外-可见漫反射光谱(UVVis DRS)对薄膜的表面形貌、晶相结构、光谱特性及能带结构进行了表征,以罗丹明B为模拟污染物对薄膜的光催化活性和稳定性进行了测定,采用向溶液中加入活性物种捕获剂的方法对薄膜的光催化机理进行了探索。结果表明:最佳工艺制备的Ag_2S/Ag_3PO_4/Ni是由均匀的球形纳米颗粒构成的薄膜,其光催化活性明显优于纯Ag_3PO_4/Ni薄膜和纯Ag_2S/Ni薄膜,且在保持薄膜光催化活性基本不变的前提下可循环使用6次。提出了可见光下Ag_2S/Ag_3PO_4/Ni复合薄膜光催化降解罗丹明B的反应机理。     

Electroless Deposition of Copper on Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) Films Modified by Plasma-Induced Surface Grafting of Poly(4-vinylpyridine)

Argon plasma-pretreated poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) films were solution coated with a thin layer of poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (P4VP). Subsequent exposure of the films to argon plasma resulted in the grafting of P4VP on the PTFE films. Electroless plating of copper could be carried out effectively on the P4VP-grafted PTFE (P4VP-g-PTFE) surface after PdCl₂ activation and in the absence of SnCl₂ sensitization (the Sn-free process). The catalytic processes of the electroless plating of copper in the presence and absence of sensitization by SnCl₂ were also compared. The effect of glow discharge conditions on the P4VP concentration and the adhesion strength of the electrolessly deposited copper was investigated. The T-peel adhesion strength of the electrolessly deposited copper with the graft-modified PTFE film was improved in the absence of SnCl₂ sensitization and could reach about 3 N/cm. PdCl₂ activation and electroless deposition of copper could not be carried out on the pristine or the Ar plasma-treated PTFE surface in the absence of prior sensitization by SnCl₂. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis revealed that the electrolessly deposited copper delaminated from the P4VP-g-PTFE film by cohesive failure inside the PTFE film.     

Ag3PO4/Ni薄膜的制备及其光催化降解罗丹明B的性能和机理

用电化学方法制备Ag₃PO₄/Ni薄膜,以扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)和紫外-可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis DRS)对薄膜的表面形貌、晶相结构、光谱特性及能带结构进行了表征,以罗丹明B为模拟污染物对薄膜的光催化活性和稳定性进行了测定,采用向溶液中加入活性物种捕获剂的方法对薄膜光催化降解机理进行了探索.结果表明:最佳工艺下制备的Ag₃PO₄/Ni薄膜具有致密的层状表面结构,是由多晶纳米颗粒构成的薄膜.薄膜具有较高的光催化活性和突出的光催化稳定性,可见光下催化作用60 min,薄膜光催化罗丹明B的降解率是多孔P25 TiO₂/ITO纳米薄膜(自制)的2.3倍;在保持薄膜光催化活性基本不变的前提下可循环使用6次.给出了可见光下薄膜光催化降解罗丹明B的反应机理.     

Ag_3PO_4/Ni薄膜的制备及其光催化降解罗丹明B的性能和机理

用电化学方法制备Ag3PO4/Ni薄膜,以扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)和紫外-可见漫反射光谱(UV-Vis DRS)对薄膜的表面形貌、晶相结构、光谱特性及能带结构进行了表征,以罗丹明B为模拟污染物对薄膜的光催化活性和稳定性进行了测定,采用向溶液中加入活性物种捕获剂的方法对薄膜光催化降解机理进行了探索。结果表明:最佳工艺下制备的Ag3PO4/Ni薄膜具有致密的层状表面结构,是由多晶纳米颗粒构成的薄膜。薄膜具有较高的光催化活性和突出的光催化稳定性,可见光下催化作用60 min,薄膜光催化罗丹明B的降解率是多孔P25 Ti O2/ITO纳米薄膜(自制)的2.3倍;在保持薄膜光催化活性基本不变的前提下可循环使用6次。给出了可见光下薄膜光催化降解罗丹明B的反应机理。     

Structure and photochromic properties of molybdenumphosphoric acid/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> composite films

TiO₂ sol-gel composite films with dropping molybdenumphosphoric acid (PMoA) have been prepared by sol-gel method. The structure and constitute of composite thin films were studied with Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) atomic force microscopy (AFM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, respectively. The photochromic behavior and mechanism of composite thin films were investigated with ultraviolet-visible spectra (UV-vis) and electron spin resonance (ESR). FT-IR results showed that the Keggin geometry of PMoA was still preserved inside PMoA/TiO₂ composite thin films, and a charge transfer bridge was built at the interface of PMoA and TiO₂ through the Mo-O-Ti bond. Surface topography of the composite film showed obvious changes before/after adding PMoA, and the surface topography of composite films showed obvious changes before/after irradiating as well. Composite thin film had reversible photochromic properties. Irradiated with UV light, transparent films changed from colorless to blue and they can bleach completely with ambient air in the dark. ESR results showed that TiO₂ were excitated by UV light to produce electrons, which deoxidized PMoA to produce heteropolyblues. The photochromic process of PMoA/TiO₂ system was carried through electron transfer mechanism.     

Surface modification of LDPE film by CO2 pulsed laser irradiation

The influence of the pulsed CO₂ laser irradiation on the surface structure of the LDPE film was investigated. Significant changes were observed on the surface of laser treated films as it was verified by the attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and contact angle-measurement. Formation of polar functional groups onto the LDPE surfaces exhibited by the ATR-FTIR spectra was shown to be strongly dependent on the number of the CO₂ laser pulses. The intensity of the polar groups increased with increasing the number of pulses up to two and then slightly decreased at three laser pulses. This was also confirmed with the contact angle measurements in which the sample subjected to two laser pulses showed the highest wettability i.e. the lowest water drop contact angle. The concentration of peroxide groups formed on the surface of the laser treated films was determined quantitatively by UV spectroscopic method using iodide procedure. The latter results showed a similar trend with the results obtained using FTIR spectroscopy.     

Enhanced photocatalytic activities of ZnO thin films: a comparative study of hybrid semiconductor nanomaterials

Nanostructure single ZnO, SnO₂, In₂O₃ and composite ZnO/SnO₂, ZnO/In₂O₃ and ZnO/SnO₂/In₂O₃ films were prepared using sol?Cgel method. The obtained composite films were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV?CVis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activities of composite films were investigated using phenol (P), 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP), 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and 4-aminophenol (4-AP) as a model organic compounds under UV light irradiation. Hybrid semiconductor thin films showed a higher photocatalytic activity than single component ZnO, SnO₂ and In₂O₃ films. The substituted phenols degrade faster than phenol. The ease of degradation of phenols is different for each catalyst and the order of catalytic efficiency is also different for each phenol. The use of multiple components offered a higher control of their properties by varying the composition of the materials and related parameters such as morphology and interface. It was also found that the photocatalytic degradation of phenolic compounds on the composite films and single films followed pseudo-first order kinetics.     

Evaluation of Photocatalytic Activity by Dye Decomposition

A novel rapid evaluation method for the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ thin films was developed. An organic dye with a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) binder was spin coated on the TiO₂ thin film, and the decrease in the absorbance of the dye's absorption peak during UV light irradiation was measured. Acid Blue 9 (Brilliant Blue FCF; CI-42090) could be used as the probe, while Methylene Blue (CI-52015) was not applicable to this method because of the reversible color change after the UV irradiation was stopped. PVA has virtually no interaction with oxidizing radicals, therefore, it is regarded as a simple binder holding dye molecules in the coated dye-PVA film. It was found that the ambient humidity during the UV irradiation strongly accelerates the discoloration rate of the dye, probably due to the increase in the photogenerated oxidizing radicals on the TiO₂ surface. This dye discoloration could be explainedby the one-dimensional diffusion model with a first order reaction.     

Surface graft polymerization of acrylamide onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) film by UV irradiation

To improve the low water wettability of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), graft polymerization of acrylamide (AAm) by UV irradiation was performed onto the surface of a PET film with the simultaneous irradiation method without using a photo sensitizer. The PET film immersed in a 10 wt % deaerated aqueous solution of AAm was found to become highly hydrophilic upon UV irradiation. Optical microscopy on cross sections of grafted films showed that localization of the graft polymerization was restricted to a thin surface region of the film. Both the low concentration of polymer radicals formed by UV irradiation and the monomer penetration limited to the film surface would be responsible for localization of the grafted layer to the film surface region. Pretreatment of the PET film with benzyl alcohol was effective for enhancement of the graft polymerization. Retention of high hydrophilicity of the surface even after rigorous extraction of homopolymer and a comparative study of polymerization without UV irradiation strongly suggested that UV irradiation of the PET film under immersion in the deaerated AAm aqueous solution would lead to formation of the true graft copolymer.     

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering characteristics of 4-nitrobenzenethiol adsorbed on palladium and silver thin films

Palladium is an important catalytic metal, and it is desirable to develop a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique to investigate the reagent and product species adsorbed on its surface. Unfortunately, Pt-group metals, e.g., Pt and Pd, have been commonly considered as non- or weak-SERS-active substrates. In this work, Ag and Pd thin films were deposited very efficiently and evenly onto the surface of glass substrates by using only corresponding metal nitrate salts (AgNO₃ and Pd(NO₃)₂) with butylamine in ethanolic solutions. In this process, pure ethanol was used for Ag deposition, while an ethanol–water (8:2) mixture was used for Pd deposition. The as-prepared Ag and Pd films exhibited SERS activity over a large area. The surface-induced photoconversion capabilities of these Ag and Pd films were then tested on 4-nitrobenzenethiol by means of SERS. It was found that at least under visible laser irradiation, the surface-catalyzed photoreaction occurs more readily on a Ag film than on a Pd film for the conversion of 4-nitrobenzenethiol to 4-aminobenzenethiol, even though Pd is known to be an important transition metal with high catalytic activity.