Self-organized TiO2 nanorod arrays on glass substrate for self-cleaning antireflection coatings

Herein we report the direct fabrication of TiO(2) subwavelength structures with 1-dimensional TiO(2) nanorods on glass substrate through solvothermal process to form self-cleaning antireflection coatings. TiO(2) precursor solutions with different solvent constituents create TiO(2) nanorods with much different morphologies grown on glass substrates. Apiculate TiO(2) nanorods with vertical orientation are grown on the glass substrate which is solvothermally treated in the precursor solution containing ethylene glycol. This glass substrate exhibit the highest transmittance of 70-85% in the range of 520-800 nm and negligible absorption in visible light region (400-800 nm). Furthermore, the TiO(2) nanorod arrays show high hydrophobicity and photocatalytic degradation ability which offer the glass substrate self-cleaning properties for both hydrophilic and oily contaminants.