title: Photocatalytic Anatase TiO2Thin Films on Polymer Optical Fiber Using Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma.
abstract: Due to the undeniable industrial advantages of low-temperature atmospheric-pressure plasma processes, such as low cost, low temperature, easy implementation, and in-line process capabilities, they have become the most promising next-generation candidate system for replacing thermal chemical vapor deposition or wet chemical processes for the deposition of functional coatings. In the work detailed in this article, photocatalytic anatase TiO2thin films were deposited at a low temperature on polymer optical fibers using an atmospheric-pressure plasma process. This method overcomes the challenge of forming crystalline transition metal oxide coatings on polymer substrates by using a dry and up-scalable method. The careful selection of the plasma source and the titanium precursor, i.e., titanium ethoxide with a short alkoxy group, allowed the deposition of well-adherent, dense, and crystalline TiO2coatings at low substrate temperature. Raman and XRD investigations showed that the addition of oxygen to the precursor's carrier gas resulted in a further increase of the film's crystallinity. Furthermore, the films deposited in the presence of oxygen exhibited a better photocatalytic activity toward methylene blue degradation assumedly due to their higher amount of photoactive {101} facets.
authors.affiliation: Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology , Materials Research and Technology Department, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.affiliation: Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology , Materials Research and Technology Department, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bulou
authors.affiliation: Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology , Materials Research and Technology Department, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Choquet
authors.affiliation: Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology , Materials Research and Technology Department, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
authors.forename: Nicolas D
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3693-6866
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Boscher
keywords: anatase TiO2; atmospheric-pressure plasma deposition; photocatalysis; side-glowing polymer optical fiber; temperature-sensitive substrate