Photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanodome thin films

Nanostructured TiO2 thin films on silicon wafers with a dome-shape were fabricated employing polystyrene latex particles as a sacrificial template. Magnetron sputtering was used as the deposition method and a structured thin layer of titania was obtained. The surface of the samples was observed by scanning transmission electron and atomic force microscopes, and showed a distinctive and uniform dome-shaped layer, where X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of TiO2 anatase. Surface roughness tended to decrease contact angles where a superhydrophilic character under UV irradiation was observed. The formed nanodome thin films also showed a higher photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under the same conditions compared to an equivalent non-structured thin film.