Water–alcohol–TiO2 dispersions as sustainable ink

Abstract

Nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a widespread multifunctional and environmentally friendly material that has numerous applications requiring micro-/nanofabrication or thin film deposition. In most cases, the fabrication of titania films can be achieved using cost-efficient solution chemistry combined with various coating or printing techniques. The practical implementation of these methods requires the preparation of a suitable ink with properly adjusted rheological properties. Conventionally, such adjustments are achieved based on TiO₂ hydrosols containing various organic surfactants and stabilizing agents. However, the use of such additives may affect the properties of the deposited functional layer, which can be crucial for electronic and optical applications. In this work, we address a comprehensive study of simple surfactant-free TiO₂ dispersion systems based on various water–alcohol solvents and demonstrate the possibility of controlling the rheological properties of the titania ink in a wide range that is suitable for several printing applications. As a particular example, we demonstrate the application of a water–i-propanol–TiO₂ dispersion as a functional ink for the offset printing of interference images.