Modification of polyethylene terephthalate track etched membranes by planar magnetron sputtered Ti/TiO2 thin films

THIN SOLID FILMS

卷:725

Article

Rossouw, Arnoux^1,2  Kristavchuk, Olga¹  Olejniczak, Andrzej^1,4  Bode-Aluko, Chris⁶  Gorberg, Boris⁵  Nechaev, Alexander^1,3  Petrik, Leslie⁶  Perold, Willem²  Apel, Pavel^1,3 

[1] Joint Inst Nucl Res, St Joliot Curie 6, Dubna 141980, Moscow Region, Russia

[2] Stellenbosch Univ, Fac Engn, ZA-7602 Stellenbosch, South Africa

[3] Dubna State Univ, St Univ Skaya 19, Dubna 141980, Moscow Region, Russia

[4] Nicolaus Copernicus Univ Torun, Fac Chem, Torun, Poland

[5] Ivanovo State Univ Chem & Technol, Sheremetevskii Pr 7, Ivanovo 153000, Russia

[6] Univ Western Cape, Dept Chem, ZA-7535 Bellville, South Africa

关键词: Titanium dioxide;    Magnetron sputtering;    Thin film;    Polyethylene terephthalate;    Track membrane;    Surface modification;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.tsf.2021.138641

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

This study investigates the surface modification of polyethylene terephthalate track-etched membranes by planar magnetron sputtering of titanium and titanium dioxide thin films to improve its hydrophilicity and photocatalytic activity. After cold plasma treatment to enhanced adhesion, Ti thin films were deposited by planar magnetron sputtering and TiO2 thin films by reactive magnetron sputtering in an Ar-O-2 gas atmosphere. The morphology of the deposited thin films was characterised using atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The pores retained a mostly circular shape. However, the modified track membrane's surface pore diameter reduced from 0.2 mu m to 0.15 mu m for Ti coated samples and 0.08 mu m for Ti-TiO2 coated samples. Structural studies using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy of Ti and TiO2 thin films revealed the intricate composition of the sputtered thin films which was a result of the complexity of sputtering on top of the porous polymer support. Additional investigations in surface wettability and bandgap showed a significant change in the track membrane surface's hydrophilicity and photocatalytic properties after depositing TiO2-Ti, adding to the self-cleaning properties of the coated TM. The bandgap of the film was 3.1 eV and of the indirect type. Both Ti and TiO2-Ti sputtering over the TM surface significantly reduced the water contact angle from 72 degrees for untreated PET to 43 degrees and 45 degrees for Ti-TM and TiO2-TiTM, respectively. This study shows that planar magnetron sputtering is a viable approach to surface modification of a porous polymeric support, such as track-etched membranes. The sputtered coating enhanced membrane hydrophilicity, thereby reducing the chance of surface fouling by organic substances, which leads to improved self-cleaning properties.

【 授权许可】

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