Long-term stability of gasochromic effect in TiO2:(W, Cr, Mo) thin film

Gasochromic thin films are used in the fields of gas sensing, smart windows and display industries. In this paper wettability and long-term stability of gasochromic effect of TiO₂:(W, Cr, Mo) thin films have been investigated. Samples were deposited using high energy reactive magnetron sputtering process on Corning 7059 glass substrates. Contact angle, critical surface tension and surface free energy were determined using Theta Lite tensiometer. Thin films revealed hydrophilic properties. Gasochromic effect was observed in ethanol vapor atmosphere in temperature of at least 200 °C. Bleaching of the thin films was obtained in an ambient atmosphere at 350 °C. Also, the coloration of the samples was entirely reversible.