Low temperature deposition of TiO2 layers from nanoparticle containing suspensions synthesized by microwave hydrothermal treatment

• Published in: Journal of sol-gel science and technology Vol. 66; no. 1; pp. 100 - 111
• Main Authors: Arin, M., Watté, J., Pollefeyt, G., De Buysser, K., Van Driessche, I., Lommens, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.04.2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Catalytic activity; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Colloidal gels. Colloidal sols; Colloidal state and disperse state; Composites; Deposition; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acids; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Glass; Glass substrates; Heat treatment; Hydrothermal treatment; Ink jet printers; Inkjet printing; Inorganic Chemistry; Low temperature; Materials Science; Methylene blue; Microwaves; Nanoparticles; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology; Natural Materials; Optical and Electronic Materials; Original Paper; Photocatalysis; Photochemistry; Physical and chemical studies. Granulometry. Electrokinetic phenomena; Physical chemistry of induced reactions (with radiations, particles and ultrasonics); Piezoelectricity; Printing; Rheological properties; Roughness; Thickness; Titanium dioxide; Titanium oxides; Triethanolamine; Nanoparticles; Photocatalytic activity; Bottom-up synthesis; Titania; Ink-jet printing; Binary compound; Nanoparticle; Photocatalysis; Transition element compounds; Microwave; Suspension; Synthesis; Hydrothermal treatment; Sol gel process; Ink jet printing; Titanium oxide; Deposition; Low temperature
• ISSN: 0928-0707; 1573-4846
• DOI: 10.1007/s10971-013-2972-2

In this paper, we present a microwave-assisted, hydrothermal method for the synthesis of TiO 2 suspensions. These were obtained from Ti 4+ aqueous precursor solutions using titanium-isopropoxide with EDTA and triethanolamine or tetraethylammonium hydroxide by applying a microwave treatment at temperatures between 100 and 140 °C. The influence of the ligands, pH, reaction temperature and time on the particle size and crystallinity was investigated and discussed. A selection of the TiO 2 suspensions was deposited on glass substrates using piezoelectric driven ink-jet printing. The rheological properties of the suspensions were evaluated against the relevant criteria for ink-jet printing and their jetting behavior was analyzed. The ink-jet printed layers were heated at temperatures between 150 and 500 °C to create transparent titanium oxide layers. The photocatalytic activity of the finally obtained layers was analyzed by following the decomposition of a methylene blue solution under UV illumination. The presence of preformed titania nanoparticles makes it possible to obtain photocatalytic active coatings at reduced heating temperatures. This can widen the application range of these functional layers to heat-sensitive substrates such as polymers. The influence of the heat treatment temperature on the film roughness, thickness and photocatalytic activity was also studied.