Characterization of Porous TiO<sub>2</sub> Films Prepared Using PEG of Different Molecular Weight

Abstract

Porous TiO2 films were prepared through dip-coating on glass substrates using different molecular weight of PEG. Surface roughness increased with increasing PEG molecular weight. The film prepared with PEG400 was fairly smooth with slight roughness. The films prepared with high molecular PEG became rougher and there were some larger particles on the films. When the PEG molecular weight got higher, adsorption edge of the films tended to move toward shorter wavelength region. In the wavelength range between 350 and 450 nm, larger PEG molecules made higher film transmittance. The particles prepared using higher or lower molecular weight of PEG had less surface area than using PEG1000. The average pore sizes were 14 nm, 15 nm, 28 nm, and 52 nm, and the total pore volume were 0.12 ml/g, 0.13 ml/g, 0.08 ml/g, and 0.09 ml/g for the TiO2 powders prepared using PEG400 to PEG 6000.