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Thermal-induced durable superhydrophilicity of TiO2 films with ultra-smooth surfaces

  • Original Paper: Functional coatings, thin films and membranes (including deposition techniques)
  • Published:
Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Superhydrophilic surfaces without the need of other stimuli are usually realized by constructing a rough morphology. However, constructing rough surfaces usually require specialized equipment or complicated processing. Besides, rough surfaces can cause undesirable scattering, which strongly limits the use in optical devices. In this article, we prepared superhydrophilic TiO2 films with ultra-smooth surfaces using simple sol-gel dip-coating method. The hydrophilicity of the TiO2 films varied with different post-heat treatments. The films heat-treated at 400 °C exhibited a durable superhydrophilicity and anti-fogging property. This superhydrophilicity was attributed to the decrease of surface hydrophobic alkoxy groups and the formation of point defects, i.e., Ti3+ and oxygen vacancies, which are favourable for dissociative water adsorption. The amount of surface organic groups was influenced by autophobicity effects, further hydrolysis and decomposition of residual alkoxy groups. Additionally, the wettability behaviours of the films were also explained from the perspective of the surface energy. These results can benefit the design and manufacture of anti-fogging and self-cleaning superhydrophilic TiO2 films.

The TiO2 films exhibited intrinsic superhydrophilicity and anti-fogging property; the superhydrophilicity can maintain 30 days.

Highlights

  • The TiO2 films exhibited durability, superhydrophilicity and anti-fogging property.

  • The superhydrophilicity films with smooth surface were capable of being optical materials.

  • The mechanism of the superhydrophilicity was well studied.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Technology, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, 610064, Chengdu, China

    Yuanyang Li, Bibo Xia & Bo Jiang

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  1. Yuanyang Li
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  2. Bibo Xia
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  3. Bo Jiang
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Correspondence to Bo Jiang.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Li, Y., Xia, B. & Jiang, B. Thermal-induced durable superhydrophilicity of TiO2 films with ultra-smooth surfaces. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 87, 50–58 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-018-4684-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-018-4684-0

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