Novel thin films of titanium dioxide particles synthesized by a sol-gel process

Novel thin films of ultrafine titanium dioxide particles dispersed in a matrix of hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) polymer have been made on quartz and silicon substrates. The titanium dioxide particles were made by the hydrolysis and condensation of titanium tetraethoxide (TEOT) in solutions of HPC in a mixture of ethanol and water. HPC controlled the particle size by adsorbing at the particle surface during the growth process and generating repulsive steric forces. The TiO₂/HPC composite films were transparent in the visible region and completely blocked ultraviolet radiation at 300 nm. These films were crack-free and uniform in composition and thickness. Transparent films of amorphous TiO₂ were made by burning out the HPC at 500 °C. These films were highly uniform and had no macroscopic cracks. X-ray diffraction revealed a transition to the anatase form upon sintering at 600 °C. A film sintered at 700 °C had a porosity of 38%. The crystalline films remained transparent until they densified at 800 °C.