Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2011
Metal-organic films were produced at ambient temperatures and pressures by the controlled hydrolysis of carboxylic acid and titanium isopropoxide mixtures. Pre-resonance Raman spectroscopy was used to study the effect of the organic acid chain length upon the nature of the resulting film. Propionic, butyric, valeric, hexanoic, and octanoic acids were studied, resulting in a proposed correlation between film quality and certain spectroscopic features of the alkoxide carboxylates. The choice of the carboxylic acid and the presence of an appropriate amount of water were shown to be critical in the development of a good film.