Modification of polyethylene terephthalate track etched membranes by planar magnetron sputtered Ti/TiO2 thin films

This study investigates the surface modification of polyethylene terephthalate track-etched membranes by planar magnetron sputtering of titanium and titanium dioxide thin films to improve its hydrophilicity and photocatalytic activity. After cold plasma treatment to enhanced adhesion, Ti thin films were deposited by planar magnetron sputtering and TiO2 thin films by reactive magnetron sputtering in an Ar-O2 gas atmosphere. The morphology of the deposited thin films was characterised using atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The pores retained a mostly circular shape. However, the modified track membrane's surface pore diameter reduced from 0.2 µm to 0.15 µm for Ti coated samples and 0.08 µm for Ti-TiO2 coated samples. Structural studies using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy of Ti and TiO2 thin films revealed the intricate composition of the sputtered thin films which was a result of the complexity of sputtering on top of the porous polymer support. Additional investigations in surface wettability and bandgap showed a significant change in the track membrane surface's hydrophilicity and photocatalytic properties after depositing TiO2-Ti, adding to the self-cleaning properties of the coated TM