Improved Self-cleaning Properties of an Efficient and Easy to Scale up TiO2 Thin Films Prepared by Adsorptive Self-Assembly

• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-07826-0
• Publication Date: 2017-08-21T13:10:20Z
• Authors: Rima J. Isaifan; Ayman Samara; Wafa Suwaileh; Daniel Johnson; Wubulikasimu Yiming; Amir A. Abdallah; Brahim Aïssa
• Keywords: Borosilicate glass; Ellipsometry

Transparent titania coatings have self-cleaning and anti-reflection properties (AR) that are of great importance to minimize soiling effect on photovoltaic modules. In this work, TiO2 nanocolloids prepared by polyol reduction method were successfully used as coating thin films onto borosilicate glass substrates via adsorptive self-assembly process. The characterized transmission electron microscopy x-ray diffraction. average particle size was around 2.6 nm. which an thickness 76.2 nm refractive index 1.51 showed distinctive anti under desert environment. film surface topography, uniformity, wettability, using diffraction, atomic force microscopy, scanning water contact angle measurements ellipsometry. investigated optical UV-Vis spectroscopy. images show 56% dust deposition rate over the coated surfaces compared with bare after 7 days soiling. spectra these collected at normal incidence high having loss less than 6% clean glass.