Processing and properties of transparent sulfated TiO2 thin films using sol–gel method

For this study, transparent sulfated TiO2 thin films were prepared from Ti alkoxide. Vacuum ultraviolet illumination in air at 180 °C was demonstrated to be an effective pretreatment for reproducible preparation of crack-free sulfated TiO2 thin films. The film provides a high photoinduced wettability conversion rate and photocatalytic decomposition efficiency on gaseous n-hexane under proper conditions. This result is attributable to the accelerated decomposition of intermediates by a strong inorganic acid on the surface or to the resultant high quantum yield by suppressing the recombination between electrons and holes on the film surface.