PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF TIO2-SIO2 (1 1) FILMS PREPARED BY A COMPLEXING AGENT-ASSISTED SOL-GEL PROCESS/

TiO2-SiO2 (Ti : Si = 50 : 50 mol%) films were prepared by the sol-gel process with and without organic ligands as modulators, The effect of the ligands on the crystal structure and optical properties of the fil ms was studied. In all samples, the anatase structure of TiO2 appeared between 500 degrees C and 700 degrees C. The crystallization temperat ure was not affected by the use of a ligand, but the refractive index of the films prepared with a ligand was lower than that of the films w ithout one. The presence of a ligand is shown to be useful in controll ing the optical properties of TiO2-SiO2 films. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scien ce S.A.