Changing the Wetting Properties of Titanium Dioxide Surfaces with Visible and Near Infrared Light
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Date
2016-10-26
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Johns Hopkins University
Abstract
TiO2 is known to change its wetting properties under UV light. In this thesis, the photoinduced hydrophilicity (PIH) of TiO2 surfaces is examined with the goal of extending the range of wavelengths to the visible and NIR regions.
Chapter 2 examines the wetting properties of sub-stoichiometric titanium dioxide (TiO2-x). Single crystal rutile (110) TiO2 surfaces were reduced (TiO2-x where x<0.06) and characterized using XRD, XPS, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and AFM. The increase in wetting of the surfaces under ultraviolet (UV) and visible light irradiation was investigated by contact angle analysis. Conversion back to their original hydrophobicity was attained by IR heating. Complete wetting by water was measured for all samples, including a simultaneously tested stoichiometric TiO2 surface, within 5 minutes under UV irradiation. Under visible light, the reduced TiO2-x surfaces showed an increase in wetting behavior while the TiO2 surface did not. The contact angles of the reduced surfaces decreased 20o-30o within 1 hour of visible light irradiation, but did not attain a state of complete wetting. The surface with greater reduction attained a lower contact angle than the less reduced surface and lowered its contact angle at a higher rate. The asymptotic approach to finite contact angle values well above complete wetting under visible light irradiation for the TiO2-x surfaces may provide a means to investigate the currently debated mechanism behind TiO2 being able to convert to a state of complete wetting.
Chapter 3 examines stable water-in-oil (w/o) Pickering emulsions created using hydrophobically modified TiO¬2 nanoparticles at the water/oil interface. The emulsions were made unstable by exposure to UV light. The results of the destabilization are compared to macroscopic contact angle studies of the same hydrophobic TiO2 nanopowder in air. The results suggest that the Pickering emulsion destabilization is due to the TiO2 photocatalytically degrading the hydrophobic coating and undergoing a contact angle change sufficient to cause the particles to leave the water/oil interface and enter the water phase.
Chapter 4 examines a combined surface composed of hydrophobic TiO2 nanoparticles and upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP). Core-shell UCNP were synthesized using an oleates-based synthesis process. The core and shell used a NaYF4 crystalline support structure. The core was doped with Yb, Tm, and Nd and the shell with Y and Nd (NaYF4:Yb,Tm,Nd@NaYF4:Y,Nd) in doping ratios appropriate to create nanoparticles that radiate in the UV range when irradiated with intense near-infrared (NIR) 980 nm or 808 nm radiation. High intensity, 1 W lasers were used to apply the necessary irradiation. The UV emission from the stimulated UCNP was hoped to be of sufficient intensity to cause the hydrophobic coating on the TiO2 nanoparticles to break down due to the photocatalytic activity of TiO2. Combined hydrophobic UCNP/TiO2 surfaces were created by mixing 1%, 5%, and 10% UCNP by weight. The 5% and 10% surfaces were found to respond to NIR irradiation within 30 minutes by a lowering of their contact angles by as much as 15o.
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Keywords
Titanium Dioxide, photoinduced hydrophilicity, NIR, Visible light, ultraviolet, Pickering emulsion, emulsion destabilization, reduced TiO2, TiO2