Highly transparent UV absorption TiO2-SiO2-Fe2O3 films without oxidation catalytic activity prepared by a room temperature sol–gel route

TiO2-SiO2-Fe2O3 films as new UV absorption material were prepared through an epoxide derived sol–gel route. The films were formed at room temperature by doping of a little amount of γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles in TiO2-SiO2. The obtained films show advantages such as high stability, efficient absorption in the UV region, high transparency in the visible range, and low oxidation catalytic activity to organic materials. It was found that 2.3 nm γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles doped films exhibit stronger UV absorption than the films doped with 5.1 nm particles because of the increased grain strain of the nanoparticles with smaller size. These advantages of the films guarantee the broad application of this inorganic UV absorption film in the protection of heat sensitive organic materials such as artworks.