Influence of Al2O3:TiO2 ratio on the structural and optical properties of TiO2–Al2O3 nano-composite films produced by sol gel method

Abstract

Abstract In this work, TiO2–Al2O3 nano-composite films were deposited on glass substrates by the sol gel method. The structural and optical properties of TiO2–Al2O3 nano composite films were characterized for different Al2O3:TiO2 volume ratio in TiO2–Al2O3 solution. The crystal size of TiO2 nanoparticles in TiO2–Al2O3 nano-composite films was determined for the different Al2O3:TiO2 volume ratios. Band gap energy values of the films were controlled by changing Al2O3:TiO2 ratios. The properties of TiO2–Al2O3 nano-composite films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), spectrophotometer (Perkin–Elmer), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). SEM results showed flower-like TiO2–Al2O3 nano-composite films.