Effect of photoirradiation on the preparation of titania thin films from aqueous solutions (Part II).

Abstract

Effect of UV irradiation on the gel films prepared by a spin-coating method using aqueous titanate colloidal solutions was investigated. The transparent sols used in this study were prepared from a reaction of titanium isopropoxide (TIP) with tetramethylammonium hydroxide or alkylamines, and consisted of a layered compound. It was found that alkylammonium ions between the layered titanate could be decomposed by photoirradiation to lead to the decrease of the interlayer distance, hardening and densification of the films.