A cost effective approach for developing substrate stable TiO2 nanotube arrays with tuned morphology: a comprehensive study on the role of H2O2 and anodization potential

Abstract

A rapid growth rate of vertically grown and ‘substrate-stable’ titania (TiO₂) nanotubes with self-organized nanotubular structures is realized in an electrolyte consisting of ethylene glycol (EG) and ammonium fluoride (NH₄F) at various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). We have explored the possible growth of ordered TiO₂ nanotubes in the electrolyte with four different concentrations of H₂O₂ (3, 5, 10 and 15 vol%) at six different applied potentials (30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 V), where self-organized TiO₂ nanotube arrays with the maximum tube length of 28 μm have been attained within 3 h of anodization in the electrolyte containing 10 vol% H₂O₂ at 60 V. The porosity of the synthesized nanotube samples is found to vary with the concentration of H₂O₂ and the applied potential. The samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).