In situ growth of TiO2/SiO2 nanospheres on glass substrates via solution impregnation for antifogging

Uniform TiO2/SiO2 nanospheres of 500 nm size were in situ fabricated on substrates by a facile soft templating route. The morphologies of the nanospheres on the substrates, as well as the intermediates, were evaluated by FESEM. During the synthesis, a micelle formation process transforming from rod-like micelles to vesicles to lamellar phases was proposed, attributed to the electrostatic self-assembly process of the oppositely charged cationic cetyltrimethyl-ammonium tosylate (CTATos) and anionic Si-OH in the solution. The processed substrates are transparent and super-hydrophilic with good antifogging properties. The homogeneous growth, firm substrate combination, and facile procedures are significantly advantageous for the fabrication method and can be explored with other substrates such as modified electrodes and nanoscale devices for diverse applications.