Simultaneous improvement of photocatalytic and superhydrophilicity properties of nano TiO2 thin films

► Anatase TiO2 nano thin films were prepared on glass substrates by sol–gel dip coating method using Tween 80 as a surfactant, TiCl4 as the Ti precursor, and ethanol as a solvent. ► Aging time effects of the sol preparation on the morphology, photocatalytic, and superhydrophilicity behaviors of the films were studied. ► It was seen that there is an aging time which photocatalytic and superhydrophilicity characters are maximum, simultaneously. Anatase TiO2 nano thin films were prepared on glass substrates by sol–gel dip coating method using Tween-80 as a surfactant, TiCl4 as the Ti precursor, and ethanol as a solvent. Atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and UV–Vis. photospectrometery experiments were performed to analyze the surface, structural and optical characteristics of the films. The effects of chemical aging time on the morphology, photocatalytic and superhydrophilicity behaviors of the films were studied. We show there is an optimum aging time at 2h which photocatalytic and superhydrophilicity properties are at their maximum values simultaneously. This is useful in the self-cleaning industry.