Flexible PET substrate coated with V2O5 film with porous network prepared by EPLSD method

Highlights: • Flexible PET substrate coated with V₂O₅ film was prepared by a developed EPLSD method. • Many kinds of metal oxide can be anchored on polymer substrates by this modified EPLSD method. • A high orientation V₂O₅ lattice plane is exposed on the network surface. • Well reversibly hydrophilic/hydrophobic conversion efficiency was observed. Flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate coated with a V₂O₅ film with porous network was prepared by developed electroless-plating-like deposition (EPLSD) method. Peroxo-vanadium-complex (PVC) and V₂O₅ nanosheets prepared by H₂O₂ and UV treatment were used as the precursors in the network construction. The morphology and crystalline phase of the V₂O₅ sample were examined by SEM, TEM, and XRD characterization. Many micropores were formed in the interconnection structure of the V₂O₅ film with a high orientation of lattice plane. Wettability of this film can be repeatedly switched by UV irradiation and O₂ storage conditions.