Electronic state and its effect on the hydrophilicity of Cu/TiO x composite films

Cu/TiO x composite films have been deposited by RF magnetron sputtering at room temperature. The chemical components and structures of the Cu/TiO x composite films have been characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis spectroscopy and water contact angel measurement. It is found that the titanium presents in the form of Ti 3+ before and after annealing. The results of UV-vis spectroscopy show the visible light absorption features of Cu/TiO x composite films with the absorption edge at about 600 nm. Contact angle results indicate that the Cu/TiO x films are hydrophilic, which is attributed to the added Cu.