Optimization of Factors Affecting the Electrodeposition of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles Using Response Surface Methodology for the Preparation of Porous Films and N719 Dye Loading

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Surface Coating and Corrosion, Institute for Color Science and Technology, P. O. Box: 167654-654, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Organic Colorants, Institute for Color Science and Technology, P. O. Box: 16765-654, Tehran, Iran

10.30509/jcst.2026.167883.1295

Abstract

This study evaluated the simultaneous effects of deposition time, current density, alcohol type, and TiO₂ nanoparticle type on porous TiO₂ film formation and relative N719 dye loading using response surface methodology. Commercial P25 and P90 nanoparticles were electrophoretically deposited under constant-current conditions from methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol suspensions. A D-optimal design comprising 27 experiments was used, with deposited mass, film thickness, apparent film density, and absorbance of desorbed N719 as responses. Two-factor interaction models described deposited mass and thickness (R² = 0.9800 and 0.8914), whereas linear models fitted film density and N719 absorbance (R² = 0.8559 and 0.7379). Deposition time significantly affected all responses, while P90 showed higher N719 adsorption. The model-predicted optimum was 180 s, 2.77 mA cm⁻², ethanol, and P90, with a desirability of 0.75. Predicted responses were 0.299 mg deposited mass, 25 µm thickness, 0.024 g cm⁻³ density, and 0.110 N719 absorbance. SEM images of a representative P25 film revealed a porous structure containing microcracks.

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