Paper TF-MoM9
Uniform Adsorption of Ligand Free Ag Nanoparticles onto TiO₂ Thin Films Deposited by Atomic Layer Deposition

Monday, October 29, 2012, 11:00 am, Room 11

Nanoparticle modification of inorganic thin films, such as TiO₂ or Al₂O₃, represents a method to enhance or alter the catalytic, antimicrobial, or responsive behaviors of a material. The use of nanoparticle inks for application is challenging, as the nanoparticles tend to be stabilized using surfactants or other molecules during the synthesis process, and these ligands can interfere with or prevent nanoparticle adsorption onto the oxide. This work shows the efficacy to attach ligand-free Ag nanoparticles onto TiO₂ surfaces formed by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Sonochemical synthesis is used to create Ag NPs of 14-20 nm diameter in an aqueous solution at room temperature without the need for additives such as stabilizing agents. After ALD of TiO₂ thin films onto polymer substrates, a facile dip coating process at ambient conditions results in the uniform decoration of the ligand free Ag nanoparticles on the TiO₂ surface. The efficiency of nanoparticle adsorption is examined by TEM and EDS. Finally, the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue is used to assess the photocatalytic efficiency of the fiber based composite.