Probing the hydrophilic behaviour of e-beam evaporated silica thin films for PV-soiling application. Issue 11 (24th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hossain, M. I.; Al Kubaisi, G.; Aïssa, B.; Mansour, S.
• Is Part Of: Materials science and technology. Volume 38:Issue 11(2022)
• Page Start: 753
• Page End: 759
• Publication Date: 2022-07-24
• Subjects: Silica thin films -- e-beam evaporation -- hydrophilicity -- solvent treatment -- hydrophobicity -- wetting behaviour -- contact angle measurement; Materials science -- Periodicals; Microstructure -- Periodicals; Metallurgy -- Periodicals; 620.1105
• DOI: 10.1080/02670836.2022.2063526
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0267-0836

Abstract

Abstract : In this work, we report on the controlled change of the wetting behaviour of silica thin films deposited by a reactive e-beam evaporation. The as-deposited coated surfaces were treated with acetone solvent using an ultra-sonic bath followed by characterising their contact angles. As confirmed by a repeated contact angle measurement, the silica thin films changed their wetting behaviour from superhydrophilic to hydrophilic which we attributed to the creation of OH groups and hydroxylation process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis suggested a SiO x stoichiometry of SiO1.85 for the non-treated samples and SiO1.91 for the solvent-treated ones. Such promising results pave the way to develop a cost-effective and efficient anti-soiling and self-cleaning coating for a large-scale application.