Synthesis and characterization of anodized titanium-oxide nanotube arrays

Michael Z. Hu, Peng Lai, M. S. Bhuiyan, Costas Tsouris, Baohua Gu, M. Parans Paranthaman, Jorge Gabitto, Latoya Harrison

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35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Anodized titanium-oxide containing highly ordered, vertically oriented TiO2 nanotube arrays is a nanomaterial architecture that shows promise for diverse applications. In this paper, an anodization synthesis using HF-free aqueous solution is described. The anodized TiO2 film samples (amorphous, anatase, and rutile) on titanium foils were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. Additional characterization in terms of photocurrent generated by an anode consisting of a titanium foil coated by TiO2 nanotubes was performed using an electrochemical cell. A platinum cathode was used in the electrochemical cell. Results were analyzed in terms of the efficiency of the current generated, defined as the ratio of the difference between the electrical energy output and the electrical energy input divided by the input radiation energy, with the goal of determining which phase of TiO2 nanotubes leads to more efficient hydrogen production. It was determined that the anatase crystalline structure converts light into current more efficiently and is therefore a better photocatalytic material for hydrogen production via photoelectrochemical splitting of water.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2820-2827
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Materials Science
Volume44
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2009

Funding

Acknowledgements This work was supported by the Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Department of Materials Science and Engineering Program and by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program of ORNL. ORNL is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC, for the US Department of Energy, under contract no. DE-AC05-00OR22725.

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