Langmuir, Vol.27, No.7, 3275-3278, 2011
Antireflection and Self-Cleaning Properties of a Moth-Eye-Like Surface Coated with TiO2 Particles
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films with a moth-eye-like surface are coated with TiO2 particles to form self-cleaning antireflective films. The use of a TiO2 suspension of high concentration to coat the PET surface produces a thicker TiO2 layer with smaller pores, whereas a low concentration of a TiO2 suspension gives a thinner layer of TiO2 with larger pores. The PET films coated with TiO2 particles exhibit a high transmittance of 76-95% and almost no absorption in the range of 400-800 nm. The PET films coated with a TiO2 suspension with a concentration of >= 2 vol % exhibit superhydrophilicity after irradiation with UV light. After irradiation, the superhydrophilic nature is retained for at least 18 days. The TiO2-coated PET films showed the ability to decompose methylene blue under UV irradiation.