Super-hydrophilic properties of TiO2–DLC nanocomposite films fabricated by the simple electrochemical process

Abstract Anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles incorporated DLC films were successfully deposited on single crystalline silicon substrates by the electrolysis of TiO 2 –methanol solution under ambient atmospheric pressure and low temperature. Anatase TiO 2 nanoparticles were embedded into amorphous carbon matrix, forming the typical nanocrystalline/amorphous nanocomposite films, confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TiO 2 incorporation effectively increased the sp 3 -hybridized carbon concentration in the composite film, and further regulated the microstructure and surface morphology. Furthermore, the static contact testing completely displayed, TiO 2 incorporation got the composite films super-hydrophilic, which fundamentally improved the wetting ability of DLC film.