A novel CVD film of titanium (IV) oxide has been prepared on glass, via the reaction of
titanium (IV) chloride and ethyl acetate, using a CVD technique. The film is clear, very robust
mechanically and comprised of a thin (24nm) layer of nanocrystalline anatase titania that
absorbs light of λ< 360nm. The film is active in terms of photo-induced superhydrophilicity,
and thus its water contact angle is reduced markedly (from 61 to 11°) upon irradiation with
ultra-bandgap light. The film is also active photocatalytically and is able to destroy a …