Hydrophilic property of SiO2-TiO2 overlayer films and TiO2/SiO2 mixing films

The photo-induced hydrophilicity of SiO2 overlayer on TiO2 films prepared by sol-gel method was investigated by means of soak angle measurement, XPS, UV-VIS and FTIR spectra. The results show that, compared with the TiO2 film without SiO2 overlayer, when the TiO2 film is thoroughly covered by SiO2 overlayer, the hydrophilicity and the sustained effect are enhanced. It is found that the significant growth of the OH- group occurs in the surface Of SiO2 overlayer. The different mechanism of enhanced hydrophilicity between SiO2 overlayer on TiO2 films and TiO2/SiO2 mixing films was analyzed. The result suggests that the photo-generated electrons created in the interface between TiO2 and SiO2 tend to reduce the Ti(IV) cation to the Ti(III) state, and the photogenerated holes transmit through the SiO2 layer to uppermost surface efficiently. Once the holes go up to the surface, they tend to make the surface hydrophilic. The stable hydrophilicity of SiO2 overlayer which adsorbs more stable OH groups, enhances the sustained effect, i.e. the super-hydrophilic state can be maintained for a long time in dark place.