Structural, optical and photocatalytic properties of erbium (Er³⁺) and yttrium (Y³⁺) doped TiO₂ thin films with remarkable self-cleaning super-hydrophilic properties.

ABSTRACT: The self-cleaning and super hydrophilic properties of pristine TiO₂ and of TiO₂ doped with Er³⁺ or Y³⁺ transparent thin films deposited onto glass substrates were investigated. The thin films prepared by multiple dipping and drying cycles of the glass substrate into the pristine TiO₂ sol and Er³⁺ or Y³⁺-doped TiO₂ sol were characterized by X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectrophotometry, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The self-cleaning photocatalytic activity of the thin films towards the removal of oleic acid deposited on the surface under UVA irradiation was evaluated. A remarkable enhancement was observed in the hydrophilic nature of the TiO₂ thin films under irradiation. The optical prope

SUBMITTER: da Silva Cardoso R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9053396 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature