Photoactive and hydrophobic titanium dioxide–silica coatings on aluminium metal surfaces have been developed by dip-coating of a mixed sol–gel precursor of titanium isopropoxide (TIP) and methyl trimethoxysilane (MTMS). The coating composition of titania–0.5 wt% silica (T–S0.5), annealed at 400 °C in air, effectively degraded 94% and 86% methylene blue after 3 h irradiation under UV and sunlight respectively. A water contact angle of 137° was measured on coated surfaces.
