Hydrophobic agents and pH modification as comparative chemical effect on the hydrophobic and photocatalytic properties in SiO2-TiO2 coating

The SiO2-TiO2 composite has been studied through several techniques obtaining different morphologies and specific properties of SiO2 and TiO2. Nevertheless, the modification of the synthesis pH and the addition of different hydrophobic agents, such as hexamethyldisilazane (HDMS) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), have not been thoroughly studied and reported. This work assessed the presence of two different hydrophobic agents and the pH modification. The SiO2-TiO2 coating was synthesized through two vias, basic and acid environment, employing the sol–gel method coupled to the sonochemistry technique. Moreover, the change of pH and use of P25 TiO2 nanoparticles and TiO2-synthesized nanoparticles allows establishing a relationship with the self-cleaning properties. The samples of SiO2-TiO2 composite were analyzed by AFM, indicating a variation in surface morphology and roughness concerning the PDMS and HMDS hydrophobic agent. ATR-FTIR analysis exhibit changes in intensity in vibrations of the Si-O, PDMS, and HMDS bonds. Raman spectroscopy results show the vibrations of the anatase and rutile phases of the TiO2 and the corresponding vibrations to the hydrophobic agents. The evaluation of self-cleaning properties demonstrated changes from the hydrophobic state to the hydrophilic state due to the addition of the nanoparticles of TiO2 to the SiO2. The photocatalytic activity was modified and improved in the HMDS-1 coating due to the hydrophobic agent and type of nanoparticles. To compare the effect of the pH in the PDMS and HMDS coatings, carried out with cyclic voltammograms and Differential Capacitance spectra. Finally, the storage time of SiO2-TiO2 coating was improved using the HMDS hydrophobic agent.