Improved photochromic properties of W6+ doped nanostructured TiO2 coatings

Abstract

During the strategic military operations, the deployment of objects viz. tanks, rescue shelters, bunkers etc. need to masquerade from enemy sensors. The deployment of these objects with adaptive photochromic coatings with fast coloration & reversibility is highly effective way for their camouflaging. The present paper systematically reports the photochromic properties of W6+ transition metal doped TiO2 nanoparticles. Undoped as well as doped TiO2 nanoparticles have been synthesized by a one pot wet chemical method. The synthesized materials have been characterized by different techniques viz. XRD, AFM, Raman, SEM, EPR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Photochromic behavior of functional material was studied by making its composite coatings in alkyd resin matrix. The effect of W6+ dopant ion concentration on photochromic properties has been explained. The coloration & reversibility characteristics of W6+: TiO2 is found superior as compared with V5+ & Mo6+ doped TiO2 nanomaterials, reported earlier.

Keywords

• Camouflage
• Photochromism
• Transition metals
• Diffuse reflectance
• Optical density