TiO₂ Nanocoatings on Natural Fibers by DC Reactive Magnetron Sputtering

Abstract

The surface functionalization of natural fibers, mainly using TiO2 films, shows a growing interest in its application as yarns in fabrics that require advanced properties, allowing the use of their excellent physical and chemical properties in the textile area. The DC magnetron sputtering technique is a potential method for depositing TiO2 films onto natural fibers, allowing for the creation of advanced and competitive properties compared to synthetic fibers. Different crystalline phases of TiO2 have been shown to be effective in photocatalytic applications. Reactive discharges like the Ar/O2 gas mixture can be used to deposit TiO2 films with desired characteristics, and controlling deposition parameters can further manipulate the properties of the coatings. Analytical techniques such as XRD, XPS, and SEM/EDS can be used to study the surface properties of TiO2 films. XRD determines crystal structure, XPS provides information on chemical composition, and SEM/EDS examines morphology and elemental composition.