Nanostructured and nano-porous thin films, offering elevated active surface, are of significant importance for a wide variety of technological applications. Here we report on the electrophoretic deposition - on a conductive substrate - of colloidal TiO2 rod-like shaped nanocrystals dispersed in an organic solvent. Colloidal synthesis allowed obtaining a careful control over the morphological properties and the crystallographic phase of nanoparticles, which resulted in rod-shaped anatase nanocrystals. Compared to spherical nanocrystal, the rod-shape offers enhanced surface/volume ratio, which limits the charge recombination. The electrophoretic deposition drives nanorods toward the immobilization on the conductive surface of the substrate, forming homogeneous nanoporous thin-films composed by densely packed nanorods. Indeed, SEM analysis endorsed that the morphology of NRs is preserved in the thinfilm. The approach reported here colloidal synthesis followed by electrophoretic deposition - could be extended to the functionalization of different surfaces with the peculiar properties inferred by the nanoparticles. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Electrophoretic deposition of colloidal TiO2 nanorods towards nano-porous thin-films
Comparelli Roberto;
2016
Abstract
Nanostructured and nano-porous thin films, offering elevated active surface, are of significant importance for a wide variety of technological applications. Here we report on the electrophoretic deposition - on a conductive substrate - of colloidal TiO2 rod-like shaped nanocrystals dispersed in an organic solvent. Colloidal synthesis allowed obtaining a careful control over the morphological properties and the crystallographic phase of nanoparticles, which resulted in rod-shaped anatase nanocrystals. Compared to spherical nanocrystal, the rod-shape offers enhanced surface/volume ratio, which limits the charge recombination. The electrophoretic deposition drives nanorods toward the immobilization on the conductive surface of the substrate, forming homogeneous nanoporous thin-films composed by densely packed nanorods. Indeed, SEM analysis endorsed that the morphology of NRs is preserved in the thinfilm. The approach reported here colloidal synthesis followed by electrophoretic deposition - could be extended to the functionalization of different surfaces with the peculiar properties inferred by the nanoparticles. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
