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<p>Low-temperature surface modification strategies for TiO<sub>2</sub> thin films remain critical scalable and substrate compatible photocatalytic devices. Herein, we investigate the influence hot water assisted treatment at 95&#xa0;C° for 72&#xa0;h on the structure, optical, and photocatalytic performance of pure sputtered TiO<sub>2</sub> thin films. X-Ray Diffraction revealed the formation of anatase phase with an average crystallites size of ~ 25.6&#xa0;nm attend by super-hydrophilicity (contact angle &lt; 20°). Raman spectroscopy confirm anatase peaks at 144&#xa0;cm<sup>− 1</sup> and 638&#xa0;cm<sup>− 1</sup>, corresponding to O–Ti–O vibrational modes, while FT-IR spectra exhibited stronger O–H vibrations, indicating enhanced hydroxylation. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra revealed emission peaks at 640, 480 and 525&#xa0;nm, attributed to oxygen vacancies, indicating the presence of defect-related energy states. The treatment showed high transmittance exceeding 95.5%, and reduces the optical band gap from 3.36&#xa0;eV to 3.21&#xa0;eV, due to increased density of oxygen vacancies and Ti<sup>+ 3</sup> defects states that enhance photocatalytic activity. Under low-intensity UV-visible irradiation, photocatalytic performance revealed MB discoloration from 5% (untreated films) to 68% (treated films). The addition of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> (10 mM) further accelerated degradation, achieving complete MB mineralization within 4&#xa0;h. Recycling experiments confirmed stable activity over eight cycles with negligible Ti-ion leaching (&lt; 3 ppb). These findings highlight the strong structure activity relationship in thermally pure sputtered TiO<sub>2</sub> thin films and their potential for efficient, durable, and reusable photocatalytic applications in pollutant removal.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Sustainable Hot-Water-Assisted Low-Temperature Crystallization of Pure TiO2 Thin Films: A Route to Stable and Reusable Photocatalysts for Water Treatment

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月4日

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  • Sihem Nezar,
  • Manel Boukezzoula,
  • Djamila Maghnia,
  • Oualid Baghriche,
  • Frank Neumann,
  • John Kiwi

摘要

Low-temperature surface modification strategies for TiO2 thin films remain critical scalable and substrate compatible photocatalytic devices. Herein, we investigate the influence hot water assisted treatment at 95 C° for 72 h on the structure, optical, and photocatalytic performance of pure sputtered TiO2 thin films. X-Ray Diffraction revealed the formation of anatase phase with an average crystallites size of ~ 25.6 nm attend by super-hydrophilicity (contact angle < 20°). Raman spectroscopy confirm anatase peaks at 144 cm− 1 and 638 cm− 1, corresponding to O–Ti–O vibrational modes, while FT-IR spectra exhibited stronger O–H vibrations, indicating enhanced hydroxylation. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra revealed emission peaks at 640, 480 and 525 nm, attributed to oxygen vacancies, indicating the presence of defect-related energy states. The treatment showed high transmittance exceeding 95.5%, and reduces the optical band gap from 3.36 eV to 3.21 eV, due to increased density of oxygen vacancies and Ti+ 3 defects states that enhance photocatalytic activity. Under low-intensity UV-visible irradiation, photocatalytic performance revealed MB discoloration from 5% (untreated films) to 68% (treated films). The addition of H2O2 (10 mM) further accelerated degradation, achieving complete MB mineralization within 4 h. Recycling experiments confirmed stable activity over eight cycles with negligible Ti-ion leaching (< 3 ppb). These findings highlight the strong structure activity relationship in thermally pure sputtered TiO2 thin films and their potential for efficient, durable, and reusable photocatalytic applications in pollutant removal.

Graphical Abstract