Rapid synthesis of anti-fogging coatings

Abstract

Nanostructured coating of silica, titanium oxide and silica - titanium oxide were self-assembled by flame spray pyrolysis onto glass substrate and in situ stabilized by rapid aerosol annealing. Although all materials had anti-fogging properties under normal irradiation, the pure titanium oxide nanostructures did not prevent fogging without UV irradiation. The anti-fogging properties were attributed to the ability of preventing water droplet formation on the glass substrate. In fact under normal irradiation, all the coatings had a super-hydrophilic surface. Nevertheless, the super-hydrophilicity mechanisms were distinguished for silica and titanium oxide while for the later it was photochemically-driven for the former it was driven by the surface species. The morphology of the nanostructures varied drastically as a function of the precursor composition. Pure titanium oxide led to aerosol-born nanoparticles which deposit heterogeneously onto the glass substrate forming disconnected, lace-like, agglomerated structures. Silica - titanium oxide nanocomposite led to similar coating's properties as the pure titanium oxide but short spike-like structures distinguished the deposited agglomerates. Show more