Platinum role in hydrophilicity enhancement of Cr-doped TiO2 thin films. Issue 28 (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mardare, D.; Mita, C.; Cornei, N.; Tascu, S.; Luca, D.; Dobromir, M.; Adomnitei, C.
• Is Part Of: Philosophical magazine. Volume 96:Issue 28(2016)
• Page Start: 3000
• Page End: 3015
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Titanium oxide -- thin films -- hydrophilicity -- irradiation effects -- metals on oxides -- XPS -- FT-IR; Condensed matter -- Periodicals; Physics -- Periodicals; Matière condensée -- Périodiques; Physique -- Périodiques; 530.41
• DOI: 10.1080/14786435.2016.1222085
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-6435

Abstract

Abstract: In this paper, we have investigated the hydrophilic properties of the titania films doped with increasing chromium percentages (from 2.1 at.% till 4.0 at.%). Cr-doping induces an increase in the rutile weight %, a more compact structure, and a significant red shift of the TiO2 absorption edge, the last property being very important in the self cleaning applications. For the chosen Cr concentrations, the films did not show promising hydrophilic properties. To improve them, we have applied a novel surface modification method, reported in literature mainly for powders, namely, surface metallisation. We have observed that, by depositing Pt islands on the film with the highest Cr content, its hydrophilic properties improve for a certain metal coverage area. The explanation was based on FT-IR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, performed on the UV irradiated and non-irradiated films, which gives information on the relationship between hydrophilicity and the amount of the adsorbed hydroxyl groups.