Functional nano-textured titania-coatings with self-cleaning and antireflective properties for photovoltaic surfaces

•Relation between surface nano-texture and functional properties of sol–gel multilayer TiO2 coatings are presented.•TiO2 thin films show good self-cleaning properties and transmittance higher than 95%.•Good crystalline films at 400 °C, also reported.

Photoactive TiO2-only transparent coatings having self-cleaning and antireflection (AR) properties were prepared by forming first a nanosol through controlled hydrolysis of tetraisopropyl orthotitanate (TIPT), followed by deposition of this nanosol on glass substrates by dip-coating with a final calcination step to form the surface nano-textured thin film. The samples were characterized in terms of nano-structure and -texture by X-ray diffraction, UV–vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy, while AR properties were investigated by transmittance measurements. Self-cleaning properties were analyzed by measuring the changes of water contact angle, and by photocatalytic degradation of a dye. The aim was to analyze how to prepare these materials and the relation of the properties of titania with the surface nano-texture, particularly in relation to obtain the properties required to their use as functional coatings for PV cells. Films with good optical characteristics and high transmittance (<1% loss in transmittance) can be obtained at low speed of dip-coating (6 mm/s) and high nitric acid concentration (0.5 M). Under optimized conditions, calcination at low temperature (400 °C) may already be sufficient to produce coatings with good functional properties, making the procedure compatible with the use of some flexible substrates. A preliminary mechanism of formation of the surface nano-texturing is also proposed.

Graphical abstractPhotoactive TiO2-only transparent coatings, having self-cleaning and antireflection (AR) properties, were prepared by a nanosol/dip-coating method to study the relation between the properties of titania and its surface nano-texture, and obtain the characteristics required for their use as functional coatings for PV cells.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide