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    Self cleaning behaviour of Ni/nano-TiO2 metal matrix composites

    Year: 2013

    Journal: Electrochimica Acta, 2013, 105, pp 324-332, 20130926

    Authors: S. Spanou, A.I. Kontos, A. Siokou, A.G. Kontos, N. Vaenas, P. Falaras, E.A. Pavlatou

    Organizations: Laboratory of General Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9, Heroon Polytechniou Str., Zografos Campus, Athens GR-15780, Greece; Division of Physical Chemistry, Institute of Advanced Materials, Physicochemical Processes, Nanotechnology and Microsystems (IAMPPNM), National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, 153 10 Aghia Paraskevi Attikis, Athens, Greece; Foundation for Research and Technology, Hellas, Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Stadiou Str., Platan Achaias P.O. Box 1414, Patras GR-26504, Greece

    Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nano-particles were immobilized in nickel matrix coatings using the direct current electrodeposition technique. The influence of nickel surface morphology and crystallographic orientation on the photocatalytic activity and photo-induced hydrophilicity of the composite coatings were investigated under UVA illumination. The overall self-cleaning character of the composites was improved following the titania codeposition, as both hydrophilic and photocatalytic effects are present. Simultaneous optimization of the two functionalities was possible via tuning the titania percentage, indicating that the corresponding properties of the composite coatings are associated also to the induced crystalline nickel orientation and the nickel grain size. In particular, the data indicate that both enhanced photocatalytic activity and photo-induced hydrophilicity are achieved by increasing amounts of titania nano-particles embedded in the Ni matrix in combination with reduced grain size of nickel crystallites that are oriented towards the [1 1 0] axis.