Fabrication of multicolor photochromic thin film

Thin films of Ag-SiO2-TiO2 composite oxides with SiO2/TiO2 of 20/80 molar compositions were prepared by the sol-gel method, using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and titanium isopropoxide (TIP) as precursors. Ag-SiO2-TiO2 films coated on commercial glass substrates have successfully been synthesized using sol-gel method. The Ag-SiO2-TiO2 film with 0.5% Ag-added concentration and 20 mol% SiO2-mixture gives optimal results on crystalline structure, optical property, surface area, and photochromic property. Absorption near the wavelength of the incident light decreased gradually. The reversibility of the two-photon writing process in Ag-SiO2-TiO2 film is clearly seen.