Synthesis and characterization of titania nanotubes by anodizing of titanium in fluoride containing electrolytes

• Published in: Applied nanoscience Vol. 7; no. 8; pp. 701 - 710
• Main Authors: Ahmad, Akhlaq, Haq, Ehsan Ul, Akhtar, Waseem, Arshad, Muhammad, Ahmad, Zubair
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-11-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anodizing; Cathodic polarization; Charge transfer; Chemistry and Materials Science; Corrosion potential; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrolytes; Energy harvesting; Fluorides; Hydrogen; Hydrogen reduction; Materials Science; Membrane Biology; Nanochemistry; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Nanotubes; Original Article; Potassium hydroxides; Solar energy; Spectrum analysis; Titanium oxides; Anodizing; Harvest solar energy; Potentiodynamic scan; Titania nanotubes; Electrochemical
• ISSN: 2190-5509; 2190-5517
• DOI: 10.1007/s13204-017-0608-5

Titania nanotubular structure was prepared by anodizing titanium metal in the fluoride containing electrolytes and studied for hydrogen reduction using photo electrochemical cell. Potentiodynamic scan was performed before actual anodizing to optimize the anodizing conditions. The morphology of the TiO
2
nanotubes was investigated by SEM and the presence of TiO
2
nanotubes was confirmed. Raman spectroscopy was done to confirm the different phases present. Hydrogen generation capability was revealed by electrochemical testing in three-electrode system in dark and in visible light at 200 W power using Gamry Potentiostat. The corrosion potential of TiO
2
nanotubes produced was found to be more active side in potassium hydroxide solution under visible light than in the dark condition. Cathodic polarization behavior of specimens in the presence of light showed more activity towards hydrogen generation than in dark condition. In comparison, the hydrogen generation capability of specimen anodized in 2H15 electrolyte was higher than specimens anodized in other electrolytes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to study the charge transfer resistance of the nanotubes produced. The results showed that TiO
2
nanotubular structure is a promising material for photoelectrochemical cell. Low-charge transfer resistance also depicts that it can be efficiently used to harvest solar energy.