Sol-gel derived nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films: A promising candidate for self-cleaning smart window applications

In the present work, anatase TiO2 films are prepared by sol-gel spin coating method. The structural and optical properties of the films have been studied at different postannealing temperatures. The photocatalytic activity and electrochromic performance of the films are investigated. The films annealed at 400 degrees C exhibit the highest photocatalytic activity with a rate constant of 4.56 x 10(-3) min(-1). The electrochromic performance for the films annealed at 400 degrees C expressed in terms of difference in optical density (Delta OD) at 550 nm between coloured and bleached state is 0.5493. This combination of photocatalysis and electrochromism makes the sol-gel derived titania thin films as promising candidates for self-cleaning smart window applications. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.