Synthesis of Titanium Oxide Nanotubes by Anodization Method

Abstract

In present research work, the prime interest is to grow highly ordered and vertically aligned titanium oxide nanotubes for potential use in the dye-sensitized solar cells. The aim is to achieve high photovoltaic conversion efficiency and low production cost. We have investigated the formation of TiO2 naonotubes by electrochemical anodization of 25 µm thick and highly pure (99.7%) titanium foil. The electrolyte used is the ethylene glycol with varying concentration of ammonium fluoride (NH4F) and fixed concentration of deionized water. The nanotubes morphology strongly depends upon applied voltage and fluoride concentration. It is found that double anodization of sample in the same electrolyte results in more ordered structures. So far we have achieved nanotubes with 100 nm diameter and 23 µm long. Scanning electron microscopy and current vs time profile (taken by Lab view software) are used to understand the morphology and growth of tubes. X-Ray diffraction and UV- visible spectroscopy techniques are used for structural information and band gap measurement of semiconductor oxide.

Keywords

• TiO2, nanotubes, anodization, ethylene glycol, NH4F, Dye-sensitized solar cells