Photocatalytic activity and photo-induced wettability conversion of TiO2 thin film prepared by sol-gel process on a soda-lime glass

We have developed the transparent photoactive TiO2 thin film coated on soda lime glass (SLG) by sol-gel process. Titanium dioxide thin films coated on SLG exhibit lower photocatalytic activity due to the thermal diffusion of Na ion from the SLG substrate. Thin SiO2 film precoating is very effective to prevent the thermal diffusion of Na ion. We have evaluated the photocatalytic decomposition of gaseous acetaldehyde and the photo-induced surface wettability of TiO2 films with and without SiO2 precoating layer. As expected, the TiO2 film on SiO2/SLG is more photoactive to decompose acetaldehyde than that on SLG. However, as for wettability conversion, there was little difference in the conversion rate between TiO2 film without SiO2, and TiO2 film with SiO2. Different dependence of Na ion diffusion on two kinds of photo-induced reaction on TiO2 is discussed based on the difference of the photo-induced reaction mechanism.