Header menu link for other important links
X
Solvothermal processing of amorphous TiO2 nanotube arrays: Achieving crystallinity at a lower thermal budget
Published in
2014
Volume: 118
   
Issue: 2
Pages: 1198 - 1205
Abstract
Highly aligned, vertically oriented TiO2 nanotube arrays formed by electrochemical anodization have been extensively investigated in the recent times because of various potential applications such as in solar cells, hydrogen generation, CO2 reduction, gas sensors and as biocompatible material. The as prepared nanotubes, however, are amorphous and require a thermal annealing process to achieve the desired crystallographic phase. Here we report a simple solvothermal technique by which the crystallinity of the nanotube arrays can be tailored at temperatures around 200 C to achieve the anatase phase without destroying the tubular morphology. In this alcohol-based solvothermal process, the crystallinity can be enhanced by changing the solvent from methanol to isobutanol and the sample treated with isobutanol for 2 h shows crystallinity and strain comparable to that of a sample annealed in a conventional furnace at 550 C. A mechanism for the solvothermal crystallization and the enhancement of crystallinity has been proposed. Furthermore, the gas sensing measurements on solvothermally treated samples have been performed with 1000 ppm methane which showed higher room temperature sensitivity compared to that of conventionally annealed sample. © 2013 American Chemical Society.
About the journal
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
ISSN19327447
Open AccessNo
Concepts (18)
  •  related image
    CONVENTIONAL FURNACE
  •  related image
    CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC PHASE
  •  related image
    ELECTRO-CHEMICAL ANODIZATION
  •  related image
    Hydrogen generations
  •  related image
    SOLVOTHERMAL PROCESS
  •  related image
    SOLVOTHERMAL PROCESSING
  •  related image
    Solvothermal techniques
  •  related image
    THERMAL ANNEALING PROCESS
  •  related image
    Annealing
  •  related image
    Biocompatibility
  •  related image
    Biological materials
  •  related image
    Carbon dioxide
  •  related image
    GAS DETECTORS
  •  related image
    Hydrogen production
  •  related image
    Methane
  •  related image
    Organic solvents
  •  related image
    Titanium dioxide
  •  related image
    Nanotubes