Preparation of TiO2:PMMA:PVA nanocomposite thin film as a smart coating as the self-cleaning application

Abstract

Abstract In this work, the TiO2: PMMA: PVA as a superhydrophilic coating was synthesized on a glasses substrate for self-cleaning application. The coating was prepared from a composite of ranging nanosized particles of titanium dioxide (TiO2), poly(methyl methacrylates) (PMMA), and Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by using the sol-gel method with an ultrasonic bath and deposited the coating by using rainfall spraying. Two ratios used to prepare the coating were TiO2: PMMA: PVA (1:5:2 and 2:4:2) wt%. The characterization of the synthesized coating was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis; also, the superhydrophilic was characterized analysis. The results of XRD showed TiO2-type rutile. The results of AFM images showed the average grain size distribution was (76.6, 79) nm and roughness was (16.998, 11.010) nm for 1:5:2 and 2:4:2, respectively. The water contact angle (WCA) of coated is maintained as low as (5.982°, 7.461°) for 1:5:2 and 2:4:2, respectively. The results showed the surface of the coating was superhydrophilic with good characterizations.