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Current characterization and growth mechanism of anodic titania nanotube arrays

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 January 2011

Chunbin Cao ,
Junlei Li ,
Xian Wang ,
Xueping Song  and
Zhaoqi Sun
Chunbin Cao
Affiliation:
School of Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China; School of Physics and Material Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230039, China; and Key Laboratory of Opto-electronic Information Acquisition and Manipulation, Ministry of Education, Hefei 230036, China
Junlei Li
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Material Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230039, China
Xian Wang
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Material Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230039, China
Xueping Song
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Material Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230039, China
Zhaoqi Sun*
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Material Science, Anhui University, Hefei 230039, China
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

TiO2 nanotube arrays were synthesized by anodic oxidation on a pure titanium substrate in solutions containing 0.175 M NH4F composed of mixtures with different volumetric ratios of DI water and glycerol. According to the results of the current curve recorded during anodization, the time of the first sharp current slope (corresponding to the initial oxide layer formation time) was found to vary from 8 to 171 s depending not only upon the water content in the electrolytes but also upon the voltage. The current curves exhibit oscillation with different amplitudes and periods. In combination with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, a growth mechanism, layer-by-layer model, of TiO2 nanotube arrays was presented. Based on this mechanism, many phenomena that appeared during anodization can be reasonably explained. Our results would be helpful for the design of nanoarchitectures in related material systems.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , 14 February 2011 , pp. 437 - 442
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2011

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References

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