A facile approach for carburization of anodically grown titania nanotubes: towards metallization of nanotubes

Abstract

The present work demonstrates a facile, low cost and environmentally friendly technique for carburization of TiO₂ nanotubes. XRD and XPS investigations suggest that the anodically grown self-organized TiO₂ nanotubes when annealed in an argon filled steel nut–bolt cavity working as an autogenic pressure reactor undergo carburization at 650 °C, which converts TiO₂ into TiO_yC_z. TEM-SAED suggests that the carburized nanotubes are polycrystalline, and also contain some reduced oxides of titanium. The conductivity measurement of the carburized nanotubes shows their conductivity to be close to metals. The electrochemical investigation of the carburized nanotubes demonstrates that the material can be used as a conductive electrode material for electrochemical reactions.