New infrared-assisted method for sol-gel derived ZnO:Ag thin films: Structural and bacterial inhibition properties.

A new sol-gel method, based on crystallization with Infrared heating, was developed to obtain ZnO:Ag thin films. The common sol, with zinc acetate as precursor and silver nitrate as doping source (1, 3 and 5 % molar), isopropanol and distilled water as solvents and monoethanolamine as stabilizer agent; was modified with Pluronic F127 and diethylene glycol as rheological agents, and with urea as fuel to produce enough energy to the combustion and to promote the crystallization process. Later, Corning glass-substrates were dipped into the sol at a constant speed of 3mms.

Structural and Luminescence Properties of Lu₂O₃:Eu F127 Tri-Block Copolymer Modified Thin Films Prepared by Sol-Gel Method.

Lu₂O₃:Eu transparent, high density, and optical quality thin films were prepared using the sol-gel dip-coating technique, starting with lutetium and europium nitrates as precursors and followed by hydrolysis in an ethanol-ethylene glycol solution. Acetic acid and acetylacetonate were incorporated in order to adjust pH and as a sol stabilizer. In order to increment the thickness of the films and orient the structure, F127 Pluronic acid was incorporated during the sol formation.