Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalysts of Perfluorinated Silica-Based Fluorescent Carbon Dot/TiO₂ for Tunable Hydrophilic–Hydrophobic Surfaces

In this study, a new hydrophilic–hydrophobic transition surface was designed via visible-light-induced photocatalytic perfluorinated silica-based fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (FNPs)/TiO 2 . Perfluorinated silica–polydopamine hybrid FNPs ( f -FNPs) were easily fabricated by carbonization in an emulsion system consisting of tetraethyl orthosilicate and dopamine, followed by the deposition of TiO 2 on f -FNPs, which demonstrated the reversal from hydrophobic to hydrophilic nature during successful photocatalysis. The synergistic effect of silica–carbon and the deposited TiO 2 NPs led to the decomposition of methylene blue under UV and visible light irradiation, demonstrating that FNPs/TiO 2 sustains photocatalytic activity. The profound contact angle with the catalytic kinetics curve and precise morphology and extension of cells detach antifouling exceptionally unrestricted the synergistic effect of silica–carbon on TiO 2 NPs on a coated paper substrate. Given the interest in the manipulation of hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity, this study can serve as a guideline for the fabrication of photocatalytic surfaces where water spreads completely.