Photo-initiation of intermolecular bonding and oxide deposition in Ti-based alkoxide solutions

Photoexposure of a water-stable, Ti-alkoxide, (OC6H6N)2Ti(OC6H2(CH2N(CH3)2)3-2,4,6)2, dissolved in a water/pyridine solution yielded an insoluble, solid phase, present in the form of suspended particles and a deposited material on the vertical side-wall of the solution container. Raman analysis of these photoproducts confirmed the UV-initiation of hydrolysis and condensation reactions in the alkoxide reagent. The excitation wavelength dependence of the photostructural effects observed provides insight into the mechanisms contributing to these photoinduced phenomena. The results are extended to enable the photopatterned deposition of physical relief structures directly from solution in this system.