Electrical and optical properties of polyester fabric coated with Ag/TiO2 composite films by magnetron sputtering

Abstract

Silver/titanium dioxide (Ag/TiO2) composite films were successfully deposited on polyester fabric by using direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering and radiofrequency (RF) magnetron reaction sputtering techniques with pure Ag and Ti targets. Atomic force microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to examine the structure and composition of Ag/TiO2 composite films. Anti-ultraviolet properties and antistatic properties of the Ag/TiO2 coated fabric were investigated, and structural color of the Ag/TiO2 coated fabric was also analyzed. The experimental results showed that the composite films deposited on textile substrates were even and dense. It was also found that Ag in Ag/TiO2 composite films was elemental silver, but Ti in Ag/TiO2 composite films was completely oxidized, and existed in TiO2 form. Compared with the original fabric samples, anti-ultraviolet properties and antistatic properties of the fabrics deposited with Ag/TiO2 composite films were improved significantly; meanwhile, different structural colors of the coated fabrics were generated.