Enhanced optical and hydrophilic properties of Si and Cd co-doped TiO2 thin films

In this study, preparation of Si and Cd co doped (5 mol% Si and 5–20 mol% Cd) TiO2 dip-coated thin films on glass substrates via sol–gel process have been investigated. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy analysis after heat treatments. XRD results suggested that adding dopants has a great effect on crystallinity and particle size of TiO2. Titania rutile phase formation was inhibited by Si4+ and promoted by Cd2+ doping. But the effect of Cd doped appeared at high concentration. Accordingly, the thin films showed various water contact angles. The water contact angles changed from 69.0° to 9.6° by changing the content of Cd doped.