One pot direct hydrothermal growth of photoactive TiO2 films on glass

Vernardou, D; Stratakisc, E; Kenanakis, G; Yates, HM; Couris, S; Pemble, ME; Koudoumas, E; Katsarakis, N

Abstract

We demonstrate that titanium (IV) oxide films may be deposited on Corning glass by a simple, one-pot,
low temperature (95 ◦C) hydrothermal growth technique and that providing the correct conditions are
employed, the films produced show clear photoactivity under UV illumination as evidenced by changes
in water contact angle and the progressive photo-oxidation of stearic acid. It is further demonstrated
that the growth, structure and photoactivity of the films depends critically upon the H2O concentration
employed during growth. For H2O concentrations below 0.1 M, little or no growth was observed, while
above 0.3 M, precipitation or even gelation rapidly occurred. Only at H2O concentrations of 0.1M and
0.2Mwas appreciable film growth observed, while photoactive titaniawas formed only via growth using
a water concentration of 0.1M, the films grown using the higher concentration of water (0.2M) being
essentially photo-inactive. The method developed is discussed in terms of the possible chemical steps
involved and is proposed as a low-cost alternative to higher temperature, less environmentally friendly
approaches to TiO2 film production.

Citation

Vernardou, D., Stratakisc, E., Kenanakis, G., Yates, H., Couris, S., Pemble, M., …Katsarakis, N. (2009). One pot direct hydrothermal growth of photoactive TiO2 films on glass. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 202(2-3), 81-85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2008.11.015

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Oct 21, 2011
• Journal: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A Chemistry
• Print ISSN: 1010-6030
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 202
• Issue: 2-3
• Pages: 81-85
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2008.11.015
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2008.11.015