Self-Cleaning Characteristics of Mesoporous Nano-Crystalline TiO₂–SiO₂ Thin Films

Abstract

Mesoporous TiO2–SiO2 films with remarkable self-cleaning capability were prepared by Sol–Gel methods and pressureless sintering. Here, the results show that the incorporation of 20 V% SiO2 onto the TiO2 films enhances the performance of anti-fog and self-cleaning. According to the SEM image, it is found that the TiO2 particles are dispersed by the SiO2, thus enlarging the specific surface area of the TiO2 particles. Therefore, super hydrophilicity and self-cleaning performance are promoted. Besides, the mesoporous structure is formed on the surface of the TiO2–SiO2 films after calcination. The mesoporous structure can improve the light utilization efficiency and the surface roughness of the films, thus promoting the performance of super hydrophilicity. Consequently, the mesoporous TiO2–SiO2 composite films as environmentally friendly coatings presented great potential in environmental governance.