Effects of substrates on the composition and microstructure of TiO 2 thin films prepared by the LPD method

TiO2 thin films were prepared on soda lime glass, fused quartz and stainless steel substrates by liquid phase deposition (LPD) method from a (NH4)2TiF6 aqueous solution upon the addition of boric acid (H3BO3), and then calcined at 500°C for 2 h. The prepared films were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that the substrates obviously influenced the element composition and microstructure of TiO2 thin films. Except Ti, O and a small amount of F and N elements, which came from the precursor solution, some Si (or Fe) element in the thin films deposited on soda lime glass and quartz substrates (or on stainless steel substrate) was confirmed. The Si (or Fe) element in the thin films could be attributed to two sources. One was from the SiF 62- ions (or FeF62- ions) formed by a reaction between the treatment solution and soda lime glass or quartz (or stainless steel) substrates. The other was attributed to the diffusion of Si (or Fe) from the surface of substrates into the TiO2 thin films after calcination at 500°C. The Si (or Fe) element in the TiO2 thin films could behave as a dopant and resulted in the formation of composite SiO2/TiO2 (or Fe2O3/TiO2) thin films on the substrates.