• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.202-207
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• 2024

In this study, we undertook detailed experiments to increase hydrogen production efficiency by optimizing the thickness of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) thin films. TiO₂ films were deposited on p-type silicon (Si) wafers using atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology. The main goal was to identify the optimal thickness of TiO₂ film that would maximize hydrogen production efficiency while maintaining stable operating conditions. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of the TiO₂ films of different thicknesses were evaluated using open circuit potential (OCP) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) analysis. These techniques play a pivotal role in evaluating the electrochemical behavior and photoactivity of semiconductor materials in PEC systems. Our results showed photovoltage tended to improve with increasing thickness of TiO₂ deposition. However, this improvement was observed to plateau and eventually decline when the thickness exceeded 1.5 nm, showing a correlation between charge transfer efficiency and tunneling. On the other hand, LSV analysis showed bare Si had the greatest efficiency, and that the deposition of TiO₂ caused a positive change in the formation of photovoltage, but was not optimal. We show that oxide tunneling-capable TiO₂ film thicknesses of 1~2 nm have the potential to improve the efficiency of PEC hydrogen production systems. This study not only reveals the complex relationship between film thickness and PEC performance, but also enabled greater efficiency and set a benchmark for future research aimed at developing sustainable hydrogen production technologies.

• Rapid Communication in Photoscience
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

Transparent $TiO_2$ films in various thicknesses were prepared by sol-gel and MOCVD method, respectively, and their photocatalytic activities in decomposing gaseous 2-propanol were evaluated. The surfaces and grain structures of the prepared films were characterized by FESEM, XRD, and AFM. It was found that the photocatalytic activities of $TiO_2$ films were greatly dependent on the film thickness and surface roughness: The photocatalytic activity increases with the increase of film thickness, while it decreases with the increase of surface roughness. We have proposed that these phenomena originate from the transfer of photogenerated electron and hole pairs from the bulk to the surface of $TiO_2$ film. Several experimental evidences supporting this mechanism have also been provided.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.268-268
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• 2012

Adsorption and desorption of toluene from bare and $TiO_2$-coated silica with a mean pore size of 15 nm was studied using breakthrough curves and temperature programmed desorption. Thicknesses of $TiO_2$ films prepared by atomic layer deposition on silica were < 2 nm, and ~ 5 nm, respectively. For toluene adsorption, both dry and humid conditions were used. $TiO_2$-thin film significantly improved toluene adsorption capacity of silica under dry condition, whereas desorption of toluene from the surface as a consequence of displacement by water vapor was more pronounced for $TiO_2$-coated samples with respect to the result of bare ones. In the TPD experiments, silica with a thinner $TiO_2$ film (thickness < 2 nm) showed the highest reactivity for toluene oxidation to $CO_2$ in the absence and presence of water. We show that the toluene adsorption and oxidation reactivity of silica can be controlled by varying thickness of $TiO_2$ thin films.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.548-554
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• 2007

[ $BaTiO_3$ ] thick film by an interfacial polymerization method was prepared at the liquid/liquid interface between benzyl alcohol saturated solution with the basic catalyst [diethyl amine ($NHEt_2$) or triethylamine ($NEt_3$)], and the water dissolved with $TiO_2$ and $Ba(CH_3COO)_2$. The film thickness increased gradually with an increase in diethyl amine($NHEt_2$) or triethylamine($NEt_3$) volume and the reaction time. The homogeneity of $BaTiO_3$ thick film after sintered at $600^{\circ}C$ was confirmed by EPMA analysis, which showed that both of Ba and Ti element were homogeneously distributed on the surface as well as in the perpendicular direction of the film. The thickness of $BaTiO_3$ film obtained by this process was $8.75\;{\mu}m$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of IIIuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.329-334
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• 2002

This study evaporates TiO$_2$ layer thickness differently with RF sputtering method on Si Wafer(n-100). Thin film is made with the structure of Si+TiO$_2$ and Si+TiO$_2$+Al by evaporating TiN which is used as Antireflection of superintegrated semiconductor integrated circuit with Photo Catalyst. The research is performed to increase the characteristics of photon energy according to TiO$_2$ thickness and the reliability and reproducibility of TiO$_2$ thin film. Reversal of electric Permittivity values is induced by dipole polarization shown in the dielectric of thin film. Complex electric constant ($\varepsilon$$_1$, $\varepsilon$$_2$) has larger peak values as it's thickness is thinner and then it is larger according to the increase of frequency. Electric Permittivity by photon energy has large value in imaginary number and is reduced exponentially by the increase of carrier density according to that of photon energy.

• Solar Energy
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 1990

Photoelectrochemical decomposition of water by the irradiation of light to the $TiO_2$ thin film soaked in water was observed. The $TiO_2$ thin film was coated on top of $SnO_2$ nesa glass by use of spray method and of dip-coating method. The spray technique of $SnO_2$ nesa film production and dip-coating technique of $TiO_2$ thin film preparation on top of the $SnO_2$ nesa film were discribed briefly. $TiO_2$ film appearance was observed by SEM and I-V characteristic curve were measured for the various thickness of $TiO_2$ film. The film Thickness $1.8{\mu}m$ showed the maximum photoelectric current. Xe-lamp was used as light source for the photoelectrochemical reaction of thin film $TiO_2$ in acidic water(pH=1)

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.741-744
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• 2002

Single phase of multicomponent oxide ZrTiO4 film could be prepared through surface sol-gel route simply by coating the mixture of 100 mM zirconium butoxide and titanium butoxide on $Pt/Ti/SiO_2Si(100)$ substrate, following pyro lysis at $450^{\circ}C$, and annealing it at 770 $^{\circ}C.$ The dielectric constant of the film was reduced as the film thickness decreased due to of the interfacial effects caused by layer/electrode and a few voids inside the multilayer. However, the dielectric property was independent of applied dc bias sweeps voltage (-2 to +2 V).The dielectric constant of bulk film, 31.9, estimated using series-connected capacitor model was independent of film thickness and frequency in the measurement range, but theoretical interfacial thickness, ti, was dependent on the frequency. It reached a saturated ti value, $6.9{\AA}$, at high frequency by extraction of some capacitance component formed at low frequency range. The dielectric constant of bulk ZrTiO4 pellet-shaped material was 33.7 and very stable with frequency promising as good applicable devices.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.437-442
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• 2018

This work reports the preparation of Al-Ti based oxide thin films and their optical properties. Although the transmittance of a $TiO_2/Al2O_3$ bilayer structure was as high as 90% at wavelengths of 600 nm or larger, the reflectance of the bilayer reached its minimum at wavelengths of around 360 nm. The transmittance of an 89-nm-thick $TiO_2$ thin film rapidly increased and then decreased at a critical wavelength because of destructive interference. The wavelength corresponding to the reflectance minimum increased after an increase in $TiO_2$ film thickness. The smooth surface morphology of the AlTiO thin film was retained up to a film thickness of 65 nm, and the transmittance of the film was inversely proportional to film thickness, in accordance with the general tendency for optical films. The reflectance of the AlTiO film at visible light wavelengths was lower than that of the $TiO_2$ film, which implies that the AlTiO film is suitable for applications as an optical thin film layer in semitransparent solar cells.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.19.2-19.2
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• 2011

The $(Sr_{0.75},\;La_{0.25})TiO_3$ (SLTO) ultra-thin films with various thicknesses have been grown on Ti-O terminated $SrTiO_3$(100) substrate using Laser-Molecular Beam Epitaxy (Laser MBE). By monitoring the in-situ specular spot intensity oscillation of reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), we controlled the layer-by-layer film growth. The film structure and topography were verified by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and high resolution thin film x-ray diffraction by the synchrotron x-ray radiation. We have also investigated the electronic band structure using x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The ultra thin SLTO film exhibits thickness driven metal-insulator transition around 8 unit cell thickness when the film thickness progressively reduced to 2 unit cell. The SLTO thin films with an insulating character showed band splitting in Ti $L_3-L_2$ edge XAS spectrum which is attributed to Ti 3d band splitting. This narrow d band splitting could drive the metal-insulator transition along with Anderson Localization. In optical conductivity, we have found the spectral weight transfer from coherent part to incoherent part when the film thickness was reduced. This result indicates the possibility of enhanced electron correlation in ultra thin films.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.264-269
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• 2000

TiO$_2$thin films were prepared on the glass by a conventional spin coating method with $TiO_2$ sol(30wt%, anatase). The thickness of the thin films were controlled by the number of coating cycles: one cycle is composed of spin coating, drying, and heating process. The reaction rate of the film was obtained by the photodecomposition of gaseous benzene under 0.44 and 2.0mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$ UV light on the film surface. For an incident UV light intensity of 0.44mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$, the reaction rate was increased with the thickness of the film, caused by extent of surface area, but there was no change over the thickness of about 4$\mu\textrm{m}$. The porous $TiO_2$ thin film has comparatively vast effective surface area, which under relatively high-intensity UV illumination causes the reaction rate to be controlled by the film thickness.