Influence of anodization parameters on topographic and morphological properties of TiO2 nanotube arrays: A reconstruction from SEM measurements

Department of Physics, Grupo de Materiales Nanoestructurados y sus Aplicaciones, Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Bogotá, Street address: Cra. 30 No. 45-03 Edificio 404 Lab. 121C Ciudad Universitaria, 11001, Colombia

Adv. Mater. Lett., 2017, 8 (4), pp 553-556

DOI: 10.5185/amlett.2017.7109

Publication Date (Web): Mar 15, 2017

Copyright © IAAM-VBRI Press

E-mail: adussanc@unal.edu.co

Abstract

In this work, we fabricated samples of titanium dioxide nanotube arrays via electrochemical anodization by using titanium foils as anode and cathode. A solution of water, ethyleneglycol, and ammonium fluoride (NH₄F) at room temperature was used for the samples synthesis process. Different times and anodizing voltages were used during reaction. From X-ray diffraction (XRD) and micro-diffraction (mXRD) measurements, rutile and anatase phases were identified as function of deposition parameters. The Ti₃O₅ phase was observed by deconvolution of Debye-Scherrer rings of the microdiffraction spectra. Annealing processes were performed for all samples in the range between 273 and 723 K, without changes in the material’s morphological properties, while the crystalline structure was affected. Nanotube diameters varying between 30 and 42 nm were observed from SEM micrographs, when NH₄F concentration was changed from 0.25 to 0.50 wt%. An alternating anodizing voltage generates the formation of nanotubes evenly spaced on the surface with nodes in bamboo-type form, while a smooth form for nanotubes was observed with constant applied voltage. From stereoscopic 3D micrographs, a reconstruction of the topographic surface of the TiO₂ nanotubes was conducted. A correlation between synthesis parameters and morphological properties is presented. 

Keywords

Titania, TiO₂, bamboo-type, nanotubes, microdiffraction.