Ellipsometric and ultrasonic studies of nano titanium dioxide specimens doped with Erbium

Abstract Nano Er-doped TiO2 thin films prepared by sol-gel technique at different doping concentrations (5%, 7%, 9%, and 11%). The prepared thin films were studied through ultrasonic and ellipsometric measurements. Mechanical properties are known from the ultrasonic method that investigated the effect of the Er-doped amount on the cross-link density, bond strength, elastic properties, and stress-strain relation between atoms of TiO2 thin films. Ellipsometric measurements studied the variation of optical transmittance, energy band gap, refractive index, Urbach energy roughness, and porosity with changing Er-doped amount. Finally, contact angle measurements are done to ensure the self-cleaning property of the prepared thin films. Results deduced that Er-doped enhanced greatly TiO2 thin films, to be used in many industrial applications as self-cleaning glass fabrication.