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Sol-gel spin coating method was employed for depositing TiO2 and Ag-doped TiO2 films. The effects of Ag doping and the annealing temperatures (300–600 °C) were studied with respect to their structural, morphological, vibrational, and optical properties. Field Emission Scanning Electron microscopy (FESEM) investigation exhibited the grained, compact structures of TiO2-based films. Ag incorporation resulted in a rougher film surface. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed the formation of Ag nanoparticles and AgO phase, along with anatase and rutile TiO2, strongly depending on Ag concentration and technological conditions. AgO fraction diminished after high temperature annealing above 500 °C. The vibrational properties were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. It was found that silver presence induced changes in IR bands of TiO2 films. UV–VIS spectroscopy revealed that the embedment of Ag NPs in titania matrix resulted in higher absorbance across the visible spectral range due to local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Ag doping reduced the optical band gap of sol-gel TiO2 films. The optical and plasmonic modifications of TiO2:Ag thin films by the number of layers and different technological conditions (thermal and UV treatment) are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTThe effect of the heating rate on crystallization and densification of sol–gel-derived TiO2 films has been investigated. The TiO2 gel films were prepared from Ti(OC3H7i)4 solutions containing alcohols (2-butanol and 2-methoxyethanol), glycols (propylene glycol, diethylene glycol and dipropylene glycol) and chelating agents (acetylacetone and benzoylacetone) as organic additives, followed by heat treatment to 800°C at various heating rates. In the cases without organic additives and with alcohols, anatase films were obtained irrespective of the heating rate, where the refractive indexes of the films were higher for slower heating rate. Conversely, for the films prepared with glycols and chelating agents, rapid heating activated crystallization and densification. In particular, addition of chelating agents led to the formation of rutile films with much higher refractive indexes than those of the anatase films.

The effect of the heating rate on crystallization and densification of sol–gel-derived TiO2 films has been investigated. The TiO2 gel films were prepared from Ti(OC3H7i)4 solutions containing alcohols (2-butanol and 2-methoxyethanol), glycols (propylene glycol, diethylene glycol and dipropylene glycol) and chelating agents (acetylacetone and benzoylacetone) as organic additives, followed by heat treatment to 800°C at various heating rates. In the cases without organic additives and with alcohols, anatase films were obtained irrespective of the heating rate, where the refractive indexes of the films were higher for slower heating rate. Conversely, for the films prepared with glycols and chelating agents, rapid heating activated crystallization and densification. In particular, addition of chelating agents led to the formation of rutile films with much higher refractive indexes than those of the anatase films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gas sensitivity and structural properties of TiO2 thin films deposited by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (ALD) were examined in detail. The TiO2 thin films are deposited using Tetrakis(dimethylamido)titanium(IV) and oxygen plasma at 300 °C on SiO2 substrates followed by annealing at temperatures of 800 °C. Gas sensitivity under exposure to O2 within the temperature range from 30 °C to 700 °C was studied. The ALD-deposited TiO2 thin films demonstrated high responses to O2 in the dynamic range from 0.1 to 100 vol. % and low concentrations of H2, NO2. The ALD deposition allowed the enhancement of sensitivity of TiO2 thin films to gases. The greatest response of TiO2 thin films to O2 was observed at a temperature of 500 °C and was 41.5 arb. un. under exposure to 10 vol. % of O2. The responses of TiO2 thin films to 0.1 vol. % of H2 and 7 × 10–4 vol. % of NO2 at a temperature of 500 °C were 10.49 arb. un. and 10.79 arb. un., correspondingly. The resistance of the films increased due to the chemisorption of oxygen molecules on their surface that decreased the thickness of the conduction channel between the metal contacts. It was suggested that there are two types of adsorption centers on the TiO2 thin films surface: oxygen is chemisorbed in the form of O2– on the first one and O– on the second one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Riboflavin-5′-phosphate (RFPO4) sensitization on photocatalytic properties of TiO2 film was studied. RFPO4 was adsorbed on film surface to investigate the photophysical properties of TiO2 upon blue-light photoexcitation. The film was characterized through scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The efficiency of the TiO2/RFPO4 film was tested for pollutant elimination in aqueous media in a visible-light-driven system. The phenol paradigmatic model was employed in an aqueous solution as a contaminant target. TiO2/RFPO4 sensitized photodegradation of phenol, which produces catechol, hydroquinone, and benzophenone, was monitored by absorption spectroscopy and HPLC. The results indicated that phenol degradation with TiO2/RFPO4 film was due to the photogeneration of two reactive oxygen species, singlet molecular oxygen (O2(1Δg)) and superoxide radical anion (O2·–) identified through specific detection techniques. The presence of O2(1Δg) is reported here for the first time as generated from a sensitized TiO2 film upon visible-light photoirradiation. Based on the photophysical determinations, a photocatalytic mechanism for TiO2/RFPO4 was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of sputtering power on the microstructure, anti-corrosion and anti-fouling properties of TiO2 films deposited on 5083 aluminum (Al) alloy by reactive magnetron sputtering at room temperature were investigated systematically. The results show that the TiO2 film mainly consists of anatase, and it is composed of spherical shaped and pyramidal particles. Both the anti-corrosion and anti-bacterial properties first improve with increasing sputter power. As the power is 12 kW, the combination of anti-corrosion and anti-bacterial properties is the best, the corrosion potential (Ecorr), current density (Icorr), polarization resistance (Rp) and density of bacteria are −0.25 V, 0.36 μA/cm2, 2255.5 Ω/cm2 and 73 cell/mm2, respectively.

• Pt/TiO2-CNT was prepared by microwave-assisted ethylene glycol reduction method, Ovs were introduced through high-temperature reduction. • Oxygen vacancies contribute to improved catalytic activity and enhance the durability of the catalyst. • Exhibits excellent mass activity and Tafel slope across different potentials. • After 10,000 CV cycles, the loss in half-wave potential and mass activity remains minimal. Economic viability and durability are pivotal challenges limiting the commercial application of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). The development of low Pt usage oxygen reduction reaction catalysts with high catalytic activity and durability is imperative. Carbon support corrosion, as well as Pt particles agglomeration and exfoliation are primary causes of commercial Pt/C catalyst degradation. Here, a composite materials formed by TiO 2 containing oxygen vacancy (O V) and carbon nanotube (CNT) was used as a functional support to successfully load Pt nanoparticles (NPs). The oxygen vacancy facilitated interactions between TiO 2 (O V) and Pt, enhancing the anchoring of Pt NPs and suppressing particle growth. The Pt/TiO 2 (O V)-CNT demonstrates excellent performance with mass activity of 788 mA/mg Pt @0.85 V, the half-wave potential increased 34 mV and the tafel slope decreased by 11.89 mVdec−1 compared to commercial Pt/C. The durability of Pt/TiO 2 (O V)-CNT nearly 3-fold that of commercial Pt/C with negligible decay of half-wave potential (0.9 %) and mass activity (16 %). Density functional theory calculations and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that the charge transfer from TiO 2 (O V) to Pt facilitates the formation of strong metal-support interactions (SMSI), leading to a downward shift in the d-band center of Pt and a reduction in the binding strength to *OOH, thus lowering the activation energy of the rate-determining step which in turn promoting the activity of ORR. This study provides a reliable approach for designing catalysts with high activity and durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of deposition rate on the properties of TiO _2 thin films produced via spray pyrolysis, focusing on their application in gas sensors. The analysis covers structural, morphological, optical, and gas sensing characteristics of TiO _2 films deposited at rates between 1 and 2.5 ml min ^−1 . Studies show optimizing TiO _2 film deposition rates at 2 ml min ^−1 significantly enhances formaldehyde detection, improving selectivity and achieving a rapid response of 7.52 at 20 ppm concentration. This study underscores the pivotal role of deposition rate optimization in augmenting the gas-sensing efficacy of TiO _2 films, particularly for formaldehyde detection at ambient conditions. Optimal deposition rates are instrumental in enhancing sensor performance. The synergistic application of XRD and Raman spectroscopy unequivocally confirmed the presence of the TiO _2 anatase phase, which is of paramount significance in gas sensing applications. FESEM furnished high-resolution insights into the surface morphology, revealing a spherical architecture. Furthermore, UV–vis spectroscopy was employed to assess the optical band gap of the films, which exhibited a decrement correlating with the rate of deposition. Notably, a deposition rate of 2 ml min ^−1 markedly improved the TiO _2 films’ sensing performance. These insights are critical for developing cost-effective, high-performance gas sensors for cutting-edge applications.

In this study, zinc (Zn)-doped titanium dioxide (TiO2) films were prepared using the two steps: anodic oxidation method and heat treatment process. The crystal structure, morphology and elemental composition of the Zn-doped TiO2 films were investigated. These films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results indicated that the TiO2 films with clear, uniform and short nanopores had a high surface area and high degree of crystallinity. The results showed that the as-anodized TiO2 film was successfully obtained as anatase phase at 450 °C. The results of XPS analysis confirmed the presence of Zn in the lattice of TiO2 as dopant, and thermal diffusion technique was successfully done as doping method. The photocatalytic performances of the Zn-doped TiO2 films were evaluated in terms of their photodegradation rate of methylene blue (MB) in an aqueous solution under UV light irradiation. The results revealed that the Zn-doped TiO2 film had a higher photocatalytic activity in comparison with the undoped sample. This study inspired that Zn-doped TiO2 films are a great potential material to treat wastewater in industrial field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gas sensitivity and structural properties of TiO2 thin films deposited by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (ALD) were examined in detail. The TiO2 thin films are deposited using Tetrakis(dimethylamido)titanium(IV) and oxygen plasma at 300 °C on SiO2 substrates followed by annealing at temperatures of 800 °C. Gas sensitivity under exposure to O2 within the temperature range from 30 °C to 700 °C was studied. The ALD-deposited TiO2 thin films demonstrated high responses to O2 in the dynamic range from 0.1 to 100 vol. % and low concentrations of H2, NO2. The ALD deposition allowed the enhancement of sensitivity of TiO2 thin films to gases. The greatest response of TiO2 thin films to O2 was observed at a temperature of 500 °C and was 41.5 arb. un. under exposure to 10 vol. % of O2. The responses of TiO2 thin films to 0.1 vol. % of H2 and 7 × 10–4 vol. % of NO2 at a temperature of 500 °C were 10.49 arb. un. and 10.79 arb. un., correspondingly. The resistance of the films increased due to the chemisorption of oxygen molecules on their surface that decreased the thickness of the conduction channel between the metal contacts. It was suggested that there are two types of adsorption centers on the TiO2 thin films surface: oxygen is chemisorbed in the form of O2– on the first one and O– on the second one.

• V-Cr co-doping into the lead-free simple-oxide TiO 2 films improved the breakdown strength. • The high polarization in the co-doped films was due to the local lattice distortion and local polarization provided by the dipole moment of the V5+-Cr3+ ionic pairs. • The (V 0.5 Cr 0.5) 0.02 Ti 0.98 O 2 film exhibited relatively high energy-storage density (∼41.92 J/cm3) and efficiency (∼60.1 %) with excellent fatigue durability, temperature and frequency stabilities. Energy-storage films that remain stable at high temperatures and frequencies are crucial for various applications. In this study, we demonstrated that donor-acceptor co-doped simple oxide TiO 2 films, viz. V5+-Cr3+ co-doped TiO 2 [(V 0.5 Cr 0.5) x Ti 1- x O 2 ] films, can exhibit highly stable energy-storage performance. The co-doped TiO 2 films exhibited high breakdown strength and polarization owing to the local polarization induced by the V5+-Cr3+ ionic pairs. The energy-storage density of the (V 0.5 Cr 0.5) 0.02 Ti 0.98 O 2 film was approximately 48.93 J/cm3 at room temperature, which is approximately 195 times higher than that of the pure TiO 2 film (0.25 J/cm3). In addition, the (V 0.5 Cr 0.5) 0.02 Ti 0.98 O 2 film exhibited excellent temperature stability from 303 K to 403 K, frequency stability from 0.5 kHz to 7.5 kHz, and fatigue durability over 107 charge-discharge cycles. The proposed strategy can effectively improve the stable energy-storage performance of lead-free donor-acceptor co-doped TiO 2 films, which are in high demand in various applications. High stable energy-storage performance were found in donor-acceptor co-doped lead-free simple-oxide TiO 2 films based on local polarization structure induced by ionic pairs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilization of the second-most abundant biopolymer, lignin, in production of fine chemicals is considered as a strategy for environmental conservation and economic feasibility of technologies. Photocatalytic conversion of sodium lignosulfonate to low molecular weight compounds over eco-friendly semiconducting materials under simulated solar light is a perspective eco-innovative approach for "green technology" development. The more efficient depolymerization of lignosulfonate during photolytic reaction occurs at pH 2 as a result of sulfonic groups' protonation, whereas the re-polymerization of hydrolyzed fragments to more complex structure in solutions at pH 5 and pH 9 is reported. Photo-sensibilization pathway toward polymer fragmentation is low effective process. It is shown that photocatalytic process is also more effective at pH 2 due to an electrostatic interaction of positively charge surface of metal oxides' films and negatively charged NaLSA molecules. As shown by LDI MS investigation, the destruction of aromatic component of NaLSA molecule can be achieved in the presence of TiO2 film under simulated solar light due to the strong reductive power of superoxide radicals resulting in the benzoic ring-opening route. The mechanism of photocatalytic reaction over iron titanate films is governed by the presence of two semi-conductive crystalline phases, pseudobrookite and landauite, that are characterized by the anodically shifted energy positions of the conduction and valence bands compared to TiO2 providing an effective oxidation by HO• radicals. Nitrogen-doped iron titanate films are considered as a photocatalyst for the processes of low molecular weight aromatic compounds' synthesis exhibiting activity under both simulated solar and visible light with the phenol yields of 0.96 μg mL−1 and 1.2 μg mL−1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystallization and densification behavior of TiO2 films during heating at below 400°C was studied for sol–gel coatings and the effect of the H2O content in the precursor solutions on the nucleation and crystal growth of anatase at such relatively low temperature was discussed. TiO2 gel films were prepared from Ti(OC3H7i)4:HNO3:H2O:C2H5OH solutions, followed by heating at 200–400°C for 10 min–6 h in air, where the H2O/Ti(OC3H7i)4 mole ratio (x) was varied from 1.0 to 8.0. The degree of crystallization and the crystallite size of the heat-treated TiO2 films were not significantly affected by the H2O content, while the surface structure became denser with an increase in x. The dense TiO2 films of x = 8.0 heated at 300–400°C for 6 h exhibited a refractive index of 2.22–2.25, which was higher than that of x = 1.0 heated at 800°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Nitrogen-doped TiO2 films were grown on borosilicate glass substrates at 400 °C by the metallorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) for removing dye from water under visible light. The effect of N-doping on the structural, surface, and photocatalytic properties of films was evaluated. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses revealed that 1.56 and 2.44 at% of nitrogen were incorporated into the films by varying the NH3 flux during the growth. Methyl orange dye degradation experiments showed that the N-doped films presented photoactivity under visible light. The film containing 2.44 at% of nitrogen exhibited the best photocatalytic behavior, with 55% of efficiency. Recyclability tests under visible light showed that the film efficiency dropped gradually after each test. N-TiO2 films grown by MOCVD have the potential to be used in environmental applications by removing pollutants using a green method under sunlight or even under internal illumination, although its reuse is limited.

[Display omitted] • PLD rutile-anatase TiO 2 films were prepared. • LIPSS were produced on large-area films with femtosecond KrF (248 nm) laser. • Photoinduced charge kinetics was measured via time-resolved microwave reflection. • Energy of shallow electron traps of irradiated films was obtained. Modifications of shallow electron trap states near conduction band was analyzed after surface structuring of TiO 2 thin films prepared via pulsed laser deposition method. Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) were produced on the large-area films after irradiation with femtosecond KrF laser (λ = 248 nm). While spatial period of LIPSS Λ ≈ 190 ± 10 nm was not affected by laser fluence, coherence was increased with an increase of laser dose. Time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements accompanied by theoretical modelling revealed energetic positions of shallow electron trap states, connected to LIPSS. A possibility to alter the trap states energy via surface structuring of the material was shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a simple electrochemical deposition route to obtain carbon-doped TiO2 films. The deposition of the films is carried out on silicon substrates from a mixture of methanol (CH3OH) and Titanium (IV) isopropoxide (Ti[OCH(CH3)2]4) solution using a simple two-electrode electrodeposition setup. The obtained films are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and conductivity measurements. Depending on the deposition conditions, both amorphous and crystalline TiO2 films could be obtained. It is found that carbon is doped both substitutionally and interstitially. High carbon doping (up to 18.96%) enables to obtain TiO2 film with narrowed bandgap and high conductivity to about 2.3 eV and 1. 1 9 × 1 0 3 S cm − 1 , respectively. This study suggests that the proposed electrodeposition route offers an easy way of obtaining conductive and narrowed bandgap TiO2 films on large surface areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P/Si-TiO2 photocatalytic thick films on FTO glass substrates were prepared. TiO2 thin films, as base layer, were first coated on substrates using a spin-coating technique. The slurry containing P/Si-TiO2 nanoparticles was bar-coated on the surface of TiO2 base layer, followed by calcining at 550 °C. The resultant films were characterized using x-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, UV–Vis spectrophotometer, crosscut adhesion test, and recycling-use test. Under 365-nm UV-light irradiation, abilities of the films to photocatalytically degrade methylene blue were evaluated. The apparent rate laws obeyed 1st-order and the corresponding reaction rate constants (k′), based on the coated area of substrates, were estimated. k′ of the thick film (thickness: 6.5 μm; composition: P/Si-TiO2 anatase crystallites with 16 nm average size) was 49.0 L/(m2-sub. h), which was about eight times of that of the thin film (k′ = 6.2 L/(m2-sub. h); thickness: 215 nm; composition: pure TiO2 anatase crystallites with 8-nm average size). Highlights: P/Si-TiO2 thick films with high photocatalytic activities firmly adhered to FTO glass substrates were prepared using spin-coating, sol-gel and barcoating techniques. The porous thick film (thickness: 6.5 μm) has its reaction rate constant about 8 times of that of the TiO2 thin film (thickness: 215 nm). In kinetic study, the assumption of ignoring the effect of photolysis of dye on concentration changes should be used with cautious considerations, otherwise the photocatalytic activity of the film may be overestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Solar photocatalysis is a promising technology of water purification for real scale applications. Intensification choices are readily available and mostly focused on optimal reactor design and/or effective photocatalyst formulation. Our study gives a simple methodology for the quantification of intensification potential, given that intensification indices are applicative in further research, simulations and predictions of degradation extents in various photocatalytic systems. The work is focused on the assessment of possible methods for intensification of photocatalytic degradation of common water borne pollutants. Solar photocatalysis poses certain limitations for large scale application with several possible reactor designs which have shown an optimal performance. In the current study, a comparison between two types of pilot scale reactors was made: a flat-plate cascade reactor (FPCR) and tubular reactor with a compound parabolic collector (CPC). Apart from the reactor design, another aspect of possible intensification was a photocatalyst formulation. The efficiency of photocatalytic films that consisted of pure TiO2 nanoparticles was compared to the efficiency of films that consisted of TiO2/CNT composites. Intensification assessment was performed via detailed kinetic modelling, combining the optical properties of films, irradiation conditions and reactor mass balance. Intensification was expressed via intensification indices. Results showed the advantage of the CPC-based reactor design and an unbiased effect of sensitizing agent (CNT) in the photocatalytic film formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Intensive use of antibiotics induced adaptations in bacteria, which developed antibiotic resistance. This is becoming a serious health problem, particularly in the hospital, food industry, or public transport. It is also important to produce surfaces that not only are bactericidal but also prevent adhesion and the consequent biofilm formation, which can make the bacteria resistant to conventional disinfection methods. In this work, a simple and inexpensive method to obtain surfaces TiO2 film coated has been realized to prevent attachment and bacterial proliferation on surfaces. The synthesis and deposition procedure has been finalized to the realization of a uniform coating, whose physical, morphological, and structural features are suitable to inhibit the proliferation of the bacteria and in particular the adhesion of the biofilm. The suitability of the obtained coating has been attested by RBS, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, UV‐vis, and Raman techniques. The obtained coatings were homogeneous anatase titania films with an excellent adherence to the substrate and a transmittivity higher than 80% in the visible region. The results show that the TiO2 films considerably reduce microbial contamination on the surface (~98% reduction) feature that makes this coating suitable for antibacterial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-doped titania (C:TiO2) films were prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering using CO2 as a carbon source. The as-prepared films were annealed at different temperatures in vacuum condition. A TiO2 film using O2 gas was also prepared for comparisons with C:TiO2. The structure and composition of the as-prepared, the TiO2 films and the annealed C:TiO2 films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, whereas the surface morphology of the C:TiO2 films was measured by atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, photocatalytic properties of the films were evaluated by the degradation of methyl orange (MO). The results indicate that the photocatalytic property was improved when carbon was doped into TiO2 films, and the C:TiO2 films consist of anatase and TiO phases. The experimental results of the MO's degradation confirm that the annealing process at various temperatures can modify the surface morphology of the films and the content of oxygen vacancies in the films. Consequently, the variations in surface topography and oxygen vacancy potentially enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among sustainable technologies, TiO2 photocatalysts are promising materials as an alternative to conventional methods that are being used for eliminating problems such as water, air, and environmental pollution originating from industrial waste. In this work, TiO2 film was produced by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis technique and annealed in oxygen, argon, and nitrogen atmospheres. The effect of the annealing process in different environments was determined by investigating their structural, optical, surface, and photocatalytic properties. It was determined from X-ray diffraction patterns that highly (004)-oriented anatase-TiO2 films were successfully obtained with annealing of polycrystalline brookite-TiO2 film. Thickness and refractive index values were determined by spectroscopic ellipsometry. According to absorbance and photoluminescence spectra, indirect optical band gaps were shifted to the visible region, and the oxygen vacancy and Ti3+ cations were formed as surface defects, respectively. Atomic force microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to determine surface properties and elemental compositions, respectively. Besides, to investigate the use potentials of TiO2 films in photocatalytic applications, photocatalytic tests were made using methylene blue as organic pollutant. Consequently, the structural, optical, and surface properties of the TiO2 films are strongly dependent on the annealing medium, and TiO2 films annealed in oxygen and nitrogen environments with higher photocatalytic activities are promising materials for photocatalytic applications. We also conclude that determination of the physical and photocatalytic properties of brookite-TiO2 film is one of the important outputs due to the difficulties encountered in obtaining of the unstable brookite phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preparation of well-ordered TiO 2 films from alkaline solution by liquid phase deposition (LPD) method is still challenging owing to the fact that, in traditional mixing process, several disadvantages exist in controllable homogenous chemical reactions. In this contribution, mixing process in a porous dispersed double T-junction micromixer was designed and investigated using numerical simulation. It is obtained that high mixing intensity can be achieved by micromixer with inlet velocity of 0.6 m s−1 and microfiltration meshes 10 μm in size. A micromixing-assisted platform consisted of two syringe pumps and a micromixer was manufactured to efficiently fabricate TiO 2 films via mixing of (NH 4) 2 TiF 6 and CO(NH 2) 2 as reactants and fluorine doped tin oxide, F: SnO 2 (FTO), conducting glass substrates by LPD in alkaline solutions. The results suggest that surface morphology of TiO 2 films fabricated by micromixing can be easily controlled in comparison with that of specimens prepared by traditional stirring mixing process. The dense and well-ordered TiO 2 films derived from micromixing have enhanced adhesion strength, high hardness, good hydrophilic and excellent photoelectrochemical properties. Particularly, homogeneous reaction could be inhibited in micromixer and an ideal supersaturation solution would be formed via micromixing treatment, which significantly facilitates the formation of high quality TiO 2 films by heterogeneous nucleation on substrate surface. These obtained achievements are expected to promote further application of TiO 2 films in a variety of domains including photocatalysis and corrosion protection of metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, a sol–gel spin coating method was employed to prepare pure and gadolinium (Gd)-doped TiO2 thin films on microscopic glass slides. The structure and morphology of prepared thin films were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray analyser, UV–VIS absorption spectroscopy, atomic force microscope and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area techniques. The sol–gel-fabricated thin films were employed for degradation of Rhodamine-B (RhB) dye under UV light irradiation. XRD results revealed that the synthesised films were crystalline and in anatase phase. The blue shift in the absorption spectra was observed with increase in Gd concentration up to 4 wt%. The BET surface area of doped films was more compared to pure TiO2 films. The amount of Gd3+ had a great impact on the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 films and Gd-TiO2 (4 wt%) films exhibited the optimal photocatalytic degradation. About 99% of RhB degradation was observed within 50 min of UV irradiation. The effect of the addition of inorganic anions and electron acceptors on degradation was also studied. The sol–gel-synthesised Gd-TiO2 films can be used as an effective catalyst for degradation of various other organic compounds under UV light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide thin films were grown by RF magnetron sputtering. After that, deposited TiO2 films were annealed at 300 °C for 2 h. Having used different oxygen flow rates as a reactive gas, optical properties of TiO2 thin films changed. Refractive index n, extinction coefficient k and the thickness of the films were calculated from the transmittance spectra and the refractive indices were optimized. The extinction coefficient decreased due to the film oxidation. Different structures characterized by X-ray diffraction pattern and the crystallization of TiO2 films improved. Moreover, the stability of crystalline phase was studied, and the optical gap energy was calculated by Tauc relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Anatase TiO 2 and TiO 2 films containing Pt nanoparticles were prepared by sol–gel dip coating method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Further, optoelectronic properties were investigated, showing that for anatase TiO 2 films containing Pt nanoparticles there were not changes in the band-gap value in respect to TiO 2 films here obtained. However, an increase in the photoresponse and a decrease in resistivity with increase in the Pt % weight (% w) in sol were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, laser sintering of TiO2 nanoparticle films on plastic substrates was conducted in order to improve the incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) of flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Lasers with different wavelengths (355 nm and 1064 nm) were used to process the TiO2 electrodes. With an optimized processing parameter combination, the 1064 nm laser can sinter 13 μm thick TiO2 films uniformly, but the uniform sintering cannot be achieved by the 355nm ultraviolet (UV) laser, since the films possess a high absorption ratio at 355 nm. The experimental results demonstrate that the near-infrared laser sintering can enhance the electrical connection between TiO2 nanoparticles without destroying the flexible plastic substrate, reduce the transmission impedance of electrons and increase the absorption rate of incident light. Furthermore, the charge collection efficiency, fill factor, and short-circuit current have all been improved to some extent, and the solar conversion efficiency increased from 4.6% to 5.7%, with an efficiency enhancement reaching 23.9%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Annealed TiO 2 films on glassy support were prepared by the doctor blade method. • Higher material loading only increased film thickness but not surface roughness. • Photocatalytic properties were strongly dependent on the material loading. The impact on the structure and photocatalytic behavior of annealed TiO 2 films at 450°C on glassy support prepared by the doctor blade method with different amounts of material loadings was evaluated. Raman, SEM-EDS, and X-ray analyses indicated that higher material loading only increased the thickness of the annealed TiO 2 films, but not their surface roughness, which remained almost constant at 290 ± 13 nm. Quantum yields for photocatalytic generation of ROS (HO• or O 2 •−) and degradation of model organic pollutants such as rhodamine B and methylene blue were also determined under different illumination configurations up to three photodegradation cycles without loss of photocatalytic activity. A marked bell-shaped dependence with mass loading was observed, with the film with approximately 0.1 mg TiO 2.cm−2 and 1 μm thickness providing the highest efficiency. Under these conditions, increased light penetration through the film occurs through various internal reflections, which enhances the excitation of the TiO 2 particles on the surface of the material in contact with the aqueous solution. Therefore, the results highlight the intricate interplay between material loading and film thickness with excitation light to achieve optimal photocatalytic activity of immobilized TiO 2 , a factor that can be considered in the rational design of efficient photoreactors. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al films and TiO2 films were separately coated on AZ31 magnesium alloy substrates by means of magnetron sputtering method. The surface properties of the samples were explored and compared. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observed the compact structure characteristics of as-deposited Al films and TiO2 films. After heat treatment under 200ºC for half an hour the films kept the compact structure characteristics and there didn’t exist structural defects on the surface of the films. Nano-indentation measurement results display that the micro-hardness of as-deposited Al film and TiO2 film reaches about 1.90 Gpa and 1.51 Gpa, separately. Al film is a bit harder than TiO2 film. Finally, the corrosion experiments in simulated body fluid initially indicate the different corrosion properties for Al film and TiO2 film. Al film presents more effective anti-corrosion properties than TiO2 film.

The work is focused on the assessment of possible methods for intensification of photocatalytic degradation of common water borne pollutants. Solar photocatalysis poses certain limitations for large scale application with several possible reactor designs which have shown an optimal performance. In the current study, a comparison between two types of pilot scale reactors was made: a flat-plate cascade reactor (FPCR) and tubular reactor with a compound parabolic collector (CPC). Apart from the reactor design, another aspect of possible intensification was a photocatalyst formulation. The efficiency of photocatalytic films that consisted of pure TiO2 nanoparticles was compared to the efficiency of films that consisted of TiO2/CNT composites. Intensification assessment was performed via detailed kinetic modelling, combining the optical properties of films, irradiation conditions and reactor mass balance. Intensification was expressed via intensification indices. Results showed the advantage of the CPC-based reactor design and an unbiased effect of sensitizing agent (CNT) in the photocatalytic film formulation.

Abstract Specific plasma engineering based synthesis can induce interesting photocatalytic antibacterial activities in TiO 2 films. This work presents the combination of pulsed DC (PDC) plasma with inductively coupled plasma (ICP) to synthesize undoped and nitrogen doped (N-doped) TiO 2 thin films using magnetron sputtering. The surface properties of resulting films were systematically analyzed in detail and correlated to the photocatalytic antibacterial activity against Gram negative Escherichia coli (E.coli). The addition of ICP source to PDC discharge generated TiO 2 films with enriched surface roughness due to the bombardment of highly activated species on the substrate. The ICP assisted films exhibited the morphology of nanoclusters with clear defined boundaries, higher O content and higher surface wettability. It was found that the films deposited with N-doping and addition of ICP source significantly increased the eradication of bacteria both in dark as well as in white light (artificial indoor light). Higher antibacterial activity of N-doped TiO 2 films in white light has been explained by photocatalytic degradation mechanism. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • N-doped TiO 2 films have been deposited with tunable surface topography. • The surface topography and surface chemistry have been tailored through precise control of plasma species. • The high energy plasma produces the surfaces with higher wettability. • N-doped films with higher surface roughness exhibit significantly enhanced photocatalytic antibacterial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this work, hydrothermal treatment and ultraviolet illumination (254 nm) were utilized to regulate the surface hydroxyls of titanium dioxide (TiO 2) nanodots films. The effects on light-induced cell detachment behaviors were also investigated and discussed. Scanning electron microscopy, Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Circular dichroism were used to characterize the surface morphology, crystalline phase, surface composition and adsorption conformation of protein molecules. It was found that a combined process of ultraviolet illumination followed by hydrothermal treatment not only promoted cells adhesion but also showed the highest efficiency in light induced cell detachment. The reason is ascribed to that such process promotes the formation of terminal hydroxyl groups in TiO 2 surface, and subsequently affect the adsorption conformation of protein molecules. This study indicated that such treatment could effectively modulate the contents of surface hydroxyl groups in different states. That shows much potential in optimizing the biological performance of TiO 2 based biomaterials. Highlights • UV254 could generate more terminal TiOH groups, while HTT promote the elimination of surface oxygen voids. • These variations of surface OH states could subsequently affect the conformation of protein molecules adsorbed. • UV254-HTT showed the largest protein conformation variation before and after UV365 illumination. • UV254-HTT and UV254 treatment showed significantly improved light induced cell detachment performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract The effects of pH, complexant and calcination temperature on the hydrophilicity of TiO 2 films were studied from three aspects of surface morphology, TiO 2 crystal structure and chemical nature in this paper. Highlights • This paper systematically studied the influence of the pH of sols, complexing agent and calcination temperature on the hydrophilicity of TiO 2 films, and discussed its influence mechanism. • The optimum process for preparing super hydrophilic TiO 2 films was proposed by orthogonal experiment. • It is concluded from mechanism analysis that super hydrophilicity of TiO 2 films is the combination of TiO 2 particles and the surface morphology that work together. Abstract Nano TiO 2 sols are prepared by the sol-gel method, and hydrophilic TiO 2 films are deposited on stainless steel sheets by spin-coating technology. The effects of pH, complexant and calcination temperature on the hydrophilicity of TiO 2 films are studied in this paper. In summary, they all affect the hydrophilicity of films by changing the hydroxyl content on the films surface. pH has a decisive influence on the size of holes in the film surfaces and also has a marked impact on the hydrolysis rate of Ti(OBu) 4. When pH = 6, the film surfaces are covered with micro-Nano holes. The complexant is the critical factor of the hydrolysis rate of Ti(OBu) 4. Double-complexants makes TiO 2 sols more stability and films more hydrophilic. The calcination temperature determines the size, arrangement and crystal structure of TiO 2 particles. When the temperature is 500 °C, the hydrophilicity of TiO 2 films is the best. It is concluded from mechanism analysis that super hydrophilicity of TiO 2 films is the combination of TiO 2 particles and the surface morphology that work together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porous titanium dioxide (TiO2) coatings were prepared on the pure titanium substrate by anodic spark oxidation (ASO) method in electrolytes containing various concentrations of sulfuric acid. The crystal phase, surface morphology, chemical composition, and optical property of the TiO2 films were analyzed by using XRD, SEM, XPS, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity is evaluated by the decomposition of methylene blue (MB) aqueous solution under UV light irradiation. It is found that the electrolyte concentration plays an important role in the properties and characteristics of the TiO2 coatings. The results show that TiO2 films consist of primarily the rutile phase with altering fraction depending on the electrolyte concentration without any heat treatment. The results demonstrated that there were formed too many sub-micron and nanopores of TiO2 neighboring to the micropores. TiO2 layer anodized in 0.75 M H2SO4 exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity than the other films. The results imply that anatase-rutile mixed TiO2 coatings can be successfully used for the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were incorporated into the active layer of mesoporous TiO2 films resulting in MWCNTs-TiO2 nanocomposites with improved electrical conductivity. These MWCNTs-TiO2 nanocomposite films were prepared by a direct mixing method and the “doctor blade” technique. The films were sintered at various annealing temperatures (300, 350, 400, and 450 °C) in order to examine the effect of annealing temperature to the morphology and electrochemical activity of the films. The presence of anatase TiO2 and MWCNTs has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Raman spectroscopy, while conductivity and electrochemical properties of the nanocomposite MWCNΤs-TiO2 films were examined via cyclic voltammetry (CV) and spectroelectrochemistry. After successful protein immobilization (Cyt-c), the electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical behavior of these hybrid electrodes (Cyt-c/MWCNTs-TiO2) was examined in detail and particularly the effect of MWCNTs on the interfacial electron transfer between the film electrode and the adsorbed protein molecules.Schematic illustration of MWCNTs-TiO2 nanocomposite films used for Cyt-c immobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In this work three different mesoporous TiO2 film electrodes were prepared and used for the immobilization of Cytochrome c (Cyt-c). Films prepared via a standard sol-gel route (SG-films) were compared with commercially available benchmark nanotitania materials, namely P25 Degussa (P25-films) and Dyesol nanopaste (Dyesol films). Their properties, film deposition characteristics and their abilities to adsorb protein molecules in a stable and functional way were examined. We investigated whether it is possible, rather than preparing TiO2 films using multistep, lengthy and not always reproducible sol-gel procedures, to use commercially available nanotitania materials and produce reproducible films faster that exhibit all the properties that make TiO2 films ideal for protein immobilization. Although these materials are formulated primarily for dye-sensitized solar cell applications, in this study we found out that protein immobilization is facile and remarkably stable on all of them. We also investigated their electrochemical properties by using cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry and found out that not only direct reduction of Fe(III)-heme to Fe(II)-heme of immobilized Cyt-c was possible on all films but that the adsorbed protein remained electroactive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

D149, a metal-free indoline dye, is one of the most promising sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The D149 sensitizer with the solvent acetonitrile gives two distinct absorption bands: first band is in the region of 350-430 nm due to (π-π*) electron transitions of the conjugated molecules, and the next in the region of 430-614 nm can be allocated to an intermolecular charge transfer (ICT) between the electron-donor and electron-acceptor anchoring moieties. Upon optimization, the device given a Jsc of 13.2 mA/cm2, Voc of 752 mV, and FF of 0.749 % and the conversion efficiency of 7.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2films were synthesised by microarc oxidation (MAO) process on pure titanium substrate in a phosphate-based electrolyte. Then, La3+/TiO2composite films have been prepared in lanthanum-containing solution by La3+impregnation. Effects of the frequency, the concentration of lanthanum and impregnation time on physical and chemical properties of the films were investigated by SEM, XRD, EDS techniques. A UV-vis spectrophotometre was also used to study optical properties of the layers. Results showed that the photocatalytic activity of TiO2films prepared by MAO was first increased and then decreased with the increasing frequency applied in the experiment. It is indicated that the variation of photocatalytic activity in the TiO2films was affected by the content of anatase. After the La3+impregnation, the photocatalytic activity of La3+/TiO2composite films was greatly improved compared with that of the TiO2films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigates the improvement in the corrosion protection performance of C-steel after being dip-coated with nano films from both pure TiO2 and poly ethylene glycol ( PEG) modified TiO2. Characterization of the deposited TiO2 films was performed by different techniques. Effect of morphology, porosity, and thickness of the deposited TiO2 layers were also studied. Results revealed an increased corrosion protection of both coated TiO2 films as compared to uncoated samples, with pure TiO2 (without PEG) samples showing higher protection. Moreover, increasing the layer thickness of both types of TiO2 coated films improved the protective properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigates the improvement in the corrosion protection performance of C-steel after being dip-coated with nano films from both pure TiO2 and poly ethylene glycol ( PEG) modified TiO2. Characterization of the deposited TiO2 films was performed by different techniques. Effect of morphology, porosity, and thickness of the deposited TiO2 layers were also studied. Results revealed an increased corrosion protection of both coated TiO2 films as compared to uncoated samples, with pure TiO2 (without PEG) samples showing higher protection. Moreover, increasing the layer thickness of both types of TiO2 coated films improved the protective properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium dioxide porous thin films on the Anatase phase were deposited onto glass slides by the sol-gel method assisted with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The dip-coated films were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG), UV-visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The photocatalytic activity of the films was determined by means of methyl-orange oxidation tests. The resultant PEG-modified films were crack-free and developed a porous structure after calcination at 500 °C. Photo-oxidation tests showed the dependency of catalytic activity of the films on the number of layers (thickness) and porosity, i.e. of the interfacial area.

In this study, laser sintering of TiO2 nanoparticle films on plastic substrates was conducted in order to improve the incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) of flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Lasers with different wavelengths (355 nm and 1064 nm) were used to process the TiO2 electrodes. With an optimized processing parameter combination, the 1064 nm laser can sinter 13 μm thick TiO2 films uniformly, but the uniform sintering cannot be achieved by the 355nm ultraviolet (UV) laser, since the films possess a high absorption ratio at 355 nm. The experimental results demonstrate that the near-infrared laser sintering can enhance the electrical connection between TiO2 nanoparticles without destroying the flexible plastic substrate, reduce the transmission impedance of electrons and increase the absorption rate of incident light. Furthermore, the charge collection efficiency, fill factor, and short-circuit current have all been improved to some extent, and the solar conversion efficiency increased from 4.6% to 5.7%, with an efficiency enhancement reaching 23.9%.

The semi-conducting and photoelectrical properties of TiO2 films prepared with thermal oxidation of titanium in the temperature range from 200 to 600 ºC were studied. Short theoretical background for application of photocurrent in semiconductor electrochemistry was presented. For all investigated temperatures and times of thermal treatments the semi-conducting properties as photocurrent peaks and band gap energies were determined. At lower temperatures the anodic values of photocurrent peaks confirmed the existence of n-type semiconducting TiO2 films with amorphous structure. With increasing the temperature and time of thermal treatment the development of crystalline structure in the film is followed with small decreasing of band gap energy. For films formed at higher temperatures and longer time of thermal treatment the determined band gap energies are close to the 3 eV that corresponds to the rutile structure of the film.

Results of research of optical radiation of discharge plasma in a wave range 350 – 820 nm and discharge voltage of an inverted cylindrical magnetron at various flows of reactive gases (N2, О2) are presented. Changes of discharge voltage have features which can be compared to a films composition and with character of changes of intensity of spectral lines of titanium atoms and molecules of reacting gases. It is shown, that the control of a deposition of TiN and TiO2 films it is possible to carry out, both with the help of measuring of discharge voltage, and with the help of the optical control of intensity of Ti, N2, O2 lines emitted by plasma. The optical control simultaneously several components of the gas medium is more informative. Optimum conditions of synthesis of stoichiometric TiN and TiO2 films are determined. The X-ray analysis was carried out, the microhardness of TiN films and refractive index of TiO2 films, received in optimum requirements, was measured.

[Display omitted] • Surface oxygen vacancies (OVs) have been tuned by (0 0 1) preferred facets to promote the photocatalytic activities of TiO 2 films. • The hydrophilicity recovery rate and photocatalytic antibacterial have been improved by (0 0 1) facets optimized surface OVs. • The idea that the preferential facets of TiO 2 films can be used to improve the hydrophilic antibacterial properties via controlling surface OVs has been confirmed. Oxygen vacancies (OVs) engineering is one of the most common methods for enhancing the photocatalytic activities of titanium dioxide (TiO 2). Although the effect is affected by the spatial distribution of OVs, little is known about how exposed facets affect the generated OVs. Therefore, we fabricate the anatase-TiO 2 films with different preferred orientations ((0 0 1) and (1 0 1) facets) on glass by magnetron sputtering and heat treatment, after that the OVs are induced in TiO 2 films by hydrogen plasma treatment at 300 °C. Through ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance analyses, the results indicate that (0 0 1) preferred orientation raise the concentration of surface OVs due to the lower OVs formation energy and the higher barrier for subsurface migration. The (0 0 1) preferred film (ht-p_2) shows the best photocatalytic performance. Within 150 min of being exposed to UV light, the degradation rate constants of methyl orange (MO) can reach 0.0029/min and 0.0022/min in 12 mg/L and 24 mg/L, respectively, which are about 2.4 times higher than the film without (0 0 1) preference. Transient photocurrent test results of ht-p_2 with the obvious increase in current density (24.9 μA/cm2) also prove that the TiO 2 film with more surface OVs has a higher carrier separation efficiency, which plays a significance role in promoting the photocatalytic activities. What's more, the results of photoinduced hydrophilicity and photocatalytic antibacterial are consistent with the photocatalytic degradation performance. This work confirms that the preferred orientation facets of TiO 2 films can be used to improve the hydrophilic antibacterial properties via controlling surface OVs, which benefit the design of high-performance catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, photoactive titanium dioxide films deposited on aluminium substrates using Radio-Frecquency (RF) magnetron sputtering have been developed, with the goal of advancing this technology for indoor air treatment. With this goal in mind, the influence of deposition parameters, namely post annealed heat treatment, working pressure and deposition time, on the physico-chemical properties of the layers has been studied. Photocatalytic efficiency for trichloroethylene degradation in gas phase, and self-cleaning performance of the developed materials have been evaluated. Samples have been thoroughly examined using different techniques (SAXRD, UV-Vis, SEM-EDX, contact angle, profilometry, hardness, among others) in order to determine the structural-photocatalytic relationship. The findings indicate that high-temperature annealing promotes the diffusion of alumina, copper and iron ions towards the surface of the samples resulting in the formation of aluminium alloys. These alloyed species can act as recombination centres adversely affecting the photocatalytic activity. The sputtering pressure also affects the nature of the titanium phases formed during the sputtering. Increasing the thickness of the TiO 2 layer leads to rougher surfaces with TiO 2 -anatase as the predominant crystal phase. Annealing temperatures of 350 °C, argon pressures between 0.8 and 1.0 Pa, and TiO 2 layer thickness of ca. 110 nm are the optimal conditions to prepare well-adhered TiO 2 layers with high photocatalytic performance. UV-A photoinduced superhydrophilicity phenomena was observed for all TiO 2 /Al materials. [Display omitted] • Highly photoactive TiO 2 coatings on aluminum substrate by RF magnetron sputtering were developed. • Calcination temperature, working pressure and sputtering deposition time define the photocatalytic performance. • Titania coatings with high homogeneity and mechanical resistance. • Aluminum alloys with iron, copper and titanium phases are detected on the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]