Characterization and Electrophoretic Deposition of Poly(Phenylsilsesquioxane)–Titania Hybrid Particles Prepared by the Sol–Gel Method

Poly(phenylsilsesquioxane)–titania (PhSiO 3/2 –TiO 2 ) hybrid particles were prepared from phenyltriethoxysilane and titanium tetra‐ n ‐butoxide by the sol–gel method. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that PhSiO 3/2 and the TiO 2 components were hybridized through Si–O–Ti bonds. The refractive index of the particles was monotonically increased from 1.57 to 1.62 with an increase in the TiO 2 content. The PhSiO 3/2 –TiO 2 particles were electrophoretically deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO)‐coated glass substrates to form opaque, thick films about 3 μm in thickness. When the mole ratio x in (1− x )PhSiO 3/2 · x TiO 2 was equal to or less than 0.05, the deposited PhSiO 3/2 –TiO 2 films became transparent with a heat treatment at 400°C because of the thermal sintering of the particles.