Effect of Water Content on Structural and Photoelectrochemical Properties of Titania Nanotube Synthesized in Fluoride Ethylene Glycol Electrolyte

Abstract:

In this work, the effect of water content from < 1 to 100 vol% on the electrochemical anodization of titanium in ethylene glycol-based electrolyte was investigated. The samples were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and their dimensional change was monitored by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). It was found that the microstructure and morphology of TiO2 varies dramatically with the water content. Nanotubes become less ordered with increasing water content up to 50 vol%. At 75 vol% water, only porous structure could be observed. Most importantly, at fixed applied voltage, smoother but relatively longer tubes can be grown with lower water content. Varying water content has no effect on the crystalline phase of the resulted nanotubes. However, the intensity of anatase (101) peak increases with increasing water content, indicating better crystallinity of samples. Nanotubes obtained in 50 vol% water exhibit the highest photoresponse when tested using linear sweep photovoltammetry due to enhanced microstructure and crystallinity.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 501)
• Pages: 204-208
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.501.204
• Online since: April 2012
• Authors: Yingchin Lim, Zulkarnain Zainal, Mohd Zobir Hussein, Weetee Tan
• Keywords: Anodic Oxidation, Ethylene Glycol, Morpholoy, Nanotube

References

[1] P. Roy, D. Kim, K. Lee, E. Spiecker, P. Schmuki, TiO2 nanotubes and their application in dye-sensitized solar cells, Nanoscale 2 (2010) 45-49.

DOI: 10.1039/b9nr00131j

[2] S. Rani, S. C. Roy, M. Paulose, O. K. Varghese, G. K. Mor, S. Kim, S. Yoriya, T. J. LaTempa, C. A. Grimes, Synthesis and applications of electrochemically self-assembled titania nanotube arrays, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 12 (2010) 2780-2800.

DOI: 10.1039/b924125f

[3] K. C. Popat, L. Leoni, C. A. Grimes, T. A. Desai, Influence of engineered titania nanotubular surfaces on bone cells, Biomater. 28 (2007) 3188-3197.

DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2007.03.020

[4] K. C. Popat, M. Eltgroth, T. J. LaTempa, C. A. Grimes, T. A. Desai, Decreased Staphylococcus epidermis adhesion and increased osteoblast functionality on antibiotic-loaded titania nanotubes, Biomater. 28 (2007) 4880-4888.

DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2007.07.037

[5] V. P. Godbole, Y. S. Kim, G. S. Kim, M. A. Dar, H. S. Shin, Synthesis of titanate nanotubes and its processing by different methods, Electrochim. Acta 52 (2006) 1781-1787.

DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2005.12.058

[6] J. M. Macak, H. Tsuchiya, P. Schmuki, High-aspect-ratio TiO2 nanotubes by anodization of titanium, Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 44 (2005) 2100-2102.

DOI: 10.1002/anie.200462459

[7] J. M. Macak, H. Tsuchiya, A. Ghicov, K. Yasuda, R. Hahn, S. Bauer, P. Schmuki, TiO2 nanotubes: Self-organized electrochemical formation, properties and applications, Curr. Opin. Solid State Mater. Sci. 11 (2007) 3-18.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cossms.2007.08.004

[8] H. Yin, H. Liu, W. Shen, The large diameter and fast growth of self-organized TiO2 nanotube arrays achieved via electrochemical anodization, Nanotechnol. 21 (2010) 035601.

DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/21/3/035601

[9] J. Yu, B. Wang, Effect of calcination temperature on morphology and photoelectrochemical properties of anodized titanium dioxide nanotube arrays, Appl. Catal., B 94 (2010) 295-302.

DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2009.12.003

[10] S. P. Albu, H. Tsuchiya, S. Fujimoto, P. Schmuki, TiO2 Nanotubes – Annealing Effects on Detailed Morphology and Structure, Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2010 (2010) 4351-4356.

DOI: 10.1002/ejic.201000608