Super-hydrophilic properties of TiO2–DLC nanocomposite films fabricated by the simple electrochemical process

Anatase TiO2 nanoparticles incorporated DLC films were successfully deposited on single crystalline silicon substrates by the electrolysis of TiO2–methanol solution under ambient atmospheric pressure and low temperature. Anatase TiO2 nanoparticles were embedded into amorphous carbon matrix, forming the typical nanocrystalline/amorphous nanocomposite films, confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TiO2 incorporation effectively increased the sp3-hybridized carbon concentration in the composite film, and further regulated the microstructure and surface morphology. Furthermore, the static contact testing completely displayed, TiO2 incorporation got the composite films super-hydrophilic, which fundamentally improved the wetting ability of DLC film.