Thin ZrO2 sol–gel films for catalytic applications

Abstract

The possibilities of excimer laser processing for increasing the specific surface area of sol–gel ZrO2 thin films for catalytic applications are studied. It is established that as a result of laser irradiation, the film microstructure is strongly modified, and a high specific surface area is obtained. Simultaneously, the as-deposited amorphous films undergo a phase transition to the high temperature cubic zirconia modification, c-ZrO2. The excimer laser modified surface is found to yield high efficiency in promoting the electroless plating of copper, and this is very encouraging for further catalytic applications of thin sol–gel zirconia films.