SELF-ORDERING ELECTROCHEMICAL SYNTHESIS OF TiO 2 NANOTUBE ARRAYS: CONTROLLING THE NANOTUBE GEOMETRY AND THE GROWTH RATE

We report the fabrication of highly ordered TiO 2 nanotube arrays employing electrochemical anodization of titanium using an organic electrolyte comprised of water, NH 4 F , and ethylene glycol. To achieve the self-ordering regime of TiO 2 nanotube growth and reliable fabrication optimal potential window between 80 and 100 V was determined. We show that anodization voltage can be used not only to control nanotube diameters (70–180 nm) but also to have impact on nanotube growth rate. The anodization voltage and anodization time were used to adjust the length of TiO 2 nanotube (thickness of nanotube layer). TiO 2 nanotube array films and self-supporting layers with thickness from < 5 μm to > 250 μm were routinely fabricated.