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Optimization of TiO2 Mesoporous Photoanodes Prepared by Inkjet Printing and Low-Temperature Plasma Processing

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Abstract

This study describes and evaluates a low-temperature method for ambient-air plasma fabrication of hybrid titania/silica nanocomposite mesoporous layers that generate and transport electrons. The mesoporous layers were prepared using wet coating with a dispersion consisting of prefabricated titania nanoparticles and polysiloxane binder, subsequently inkjet-printed and plasma-processed by diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge, to form an almost inorganic titania/silica coating of the high specific surface. The study demonstrates approaches to optimization of the coating, using various TiO2 nanoparticles, and of the plasma processing, together with the economic significance of printing and plasma processing—an approach compatible with processes envisaged for the manufacture of flexible electronics.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by project 19-14770Y funded by Czech Science Foundation and by the project LM2018097 funded by Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of Czech Republic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Electronics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 267/2, 611 37, Brno, Czech Republic

    Tomáš Homola, Masoud Shekargoftar & Pavel Souček

  2. Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic

    Zuzana Ďurašová & Petr Dzik

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  1. Tomáš Homola
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  2. Zuzana Ďurašová
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  3. Masoud Shekargoftar
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Correspondence to Tomáš Homola.

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Homola, T., Ďurašová, Z., Shekargoftar, M. et al. Optimization of TiO2 Mesoporous Photoanodes Prepared by Inkjet Printing and Low-Temperature Plasma Processing. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 40, 1311–1330 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-020-10086-y

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