Abstract: A method for preparing an amorphous metal oxide film is provided. The method comprises providing an aqueous composition comprising a metal fluorine compound; and contacting a substrate with the aqueous composition at a temperature of less than about 100° C. to obtain said amorphous metal oxide film on the substrate. An amorphous metal oxide film, and use of the amorphous metal oxide film in various applications are also provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments refer to a method for preparing an oxide film on a polymeric substrate, wherein the oxide film is a titanium oxide film (which is optionally niobium- or silicon-doped) or silicon oxide film. The method comprises contacting a polymeric substrate with a liquid reagent comprising a polyalkoxysilane such as 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to form a layer of the polyalkoxysilane on the polymeric substrate by self-assembly, and contacting said layer with an aqueous mixture comprising (i) titanium tetrafluoride and/or a fluorine-containing titanium complex such as ammonium hexafluorotitanate and/or a fluorine-containing silicon complex such as ammonium hexafluorosilicate, and (ii) a fluorine scavenger such as boric acid, at a temperature of less than about 100° C. to obtained the oxide film on the polymeric substrate. An oxide film prepared by said method is also provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments refer to a method for preparing an oxide film on a polymeric substrate, wherein the oxide film is a titanium oxide film (which is optionally niobium- or silicon-doped) or silicon oxide film. The method comprises contacting a polymeric substrate with a liquid reagent comprising a polyalkoxysilane such as 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane to form a layer of the polyalkoxysilane on the polymeric substrate by self-assembly, and contacting said layer with an aqueous mixture comprising (i) titanium tetrafluoride and/or a fluorine-containing titanium complex such as ammonium hexafluorotitanate and/or a fluorine-containing silicon complex such as ammonium hexafluorosilicate, and (ii) a fluorine scavenger such as boric acid, at a temperature of less than about 100° C. to obtained the oxide film on the polymeric substrate. An oxide film prepared by said method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for preparing an amorphous metal oxide film is provided. The method comprises providing an aqueous composition comprising a metal fluorine compound; and contacting a substrate with the aqueous composition at a temperature of less than about 100° C. to obtain said amorphous metal oxide film on the substrate. An amorphous metal oxide film, and use of the amorphous metal oxide film in various applications are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming an epitaxial zinc oxide film on a substrate. The method includes forming an array of nanorods at least substantially perpendicular to the substrate in an aqueous solution; and growing the array of nanorods in an at least substantially lateral direction in the aqueous solution such that adjacent nanorods coalesce to form the epitaxial film. The present invention also relates to the films thus obtained and devices containing said films.