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Sputtering conditions to produce nearly equiatomic NiTi films were studied. Two heat treatment methods, substrate heating (550 °C) and post-sputter heat treatments (solution heat treatment at 700 °C and precipitation heat treatment at 400 °C), were used to crystallize NiTi films. The NiTi films were analysed for their atomic composition, crystal structure, transformation temperatures, residual stress and Young's modulus. NiTi films produced by rf magnetron sputtering were slightly titanium rich. With appropriate post-sputter heat treatment, NiTi films with phase transformation temperatures within the human body temperature range (34–42 °C) were produced. The films also demonstrated two-way shape memory training capability.

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Efficiency enhancement of solar cells employing TiO2 as the active material has been successfully done by addition of copper(II) nitrate trihydrate (Cu(NO3)2.3H2O) in the TiO2 dispersant, and post-treatment with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) after electroplating of copper particles at spaces inside the TiO2 film. Homogeneously mix of TiO2 particles in the solution of Cu(NO3)2.3H2O was deposited on a transparent conducting electrode using a spray method. To reduce electron-hole recombination, copper particles were deposited on the space between TiO2 particles by electroplating. A sample of solar cell was made by sandwiching a polymer electrolyte between the film and a counter electrode. Copper(II) nitrate trihydrate of 1.4 wt% and 5 volt electroplating voltage are able to produce an optimum power conversion efficiency of 0.35% with a fill factor of 0.31. To achieve higher efficiency, post treatment with NaOH was performed to increase the ionic transfer ability in electrolyte and we observed efficiency up to 1.24% with a fill factor of 0.34.

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