Sol-gel TiO_2 films with the morphology of micrometer-scale channels were prepared by 355-nm pulse laser ablation. The relationship between wettability of channeled TiO_2 films and the hydrophilic area and UV irradiation was discussed. The results show that the laser-ablated area is superhydrophilic, and the larger the proportion of ablated area is, the lower the water contact angle of the channeled TiO_2 films is. The water contact angle of channeled TiO_2 films increases faster than that of smooth TiO_2 films during the storage in dark. On the other hand, the water contact angle of the chaneled TiO_2 films decreases also faster than that of smooth TiO_2 films with UV irradiation.

Key words: LASER, ETCH, SOL-GEL PROCESS, TITANIUM DIOXIDE, THIN FILMS, HYDROPHILICITY