UV-Absorption and Silica/Titania Colloids Using a Core–Shell Approach

Metal-oxo-colloids have been prepared using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) oligomers with titanium tetra- i -propoxide (TIP) or titanium (di- i -propoxide) bis(acetylacetonate) (TIA) precursors. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR, UV-Vis, and photoluminescence spectroscopy were used to investigate the composition, the size, and optical properties of the Si/Ti core–shell colloids. The presence of hetero-bonded silicate structure (Si–O–Ti) was indicated by FTIR spectroscopy. The size of Si/TIP system ranged from 55 to 120 nm and Si/TIA system ranged from 220 to 250 nm. The TEM data indicated that the size of colloids can be controlled by the TIP or TIA content. The Si/Ti system exhibited strong absorption in the UV-range, yet had excellent optical transmittance in the visible range. The Si/Ti systems exhibited a photoluminescence emission at 329 nm.