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Influence of crystallite size and surface morphology on electrochemical properties of annealed TiO 2 nanotubes
Balakrishnan Munirathinam, Haveela Pydimukkala, Lakshman Neelakantan,
Published in Elsevier B.V.
2015
Volume: 355
   
Pages: 1245 - 1253
Abstract
The current study investigates the effect of crystallite size and surface morphology of TiO 2 nanotubes on their wettability and electrochemical properties. Self-organized amorphous TiO 2 nanotubes were synthesized by anodization process in an acidic (0.5 wt% HF) and a neutral electrolyte (1 M Na 2 SO 4 + 0.5 wt% NaF). Subsequently, the nanotubes were annealed at 450 °C to achieve crystalline phase. Scanning electron microscope micrographs revealed that nanotubes formed from the neutral bath are four times longer (1.2 μm) than the ones synthesized from the acidic bath (325 nm). The charge consumed during anodization is greater under the acidic conditions implying the severity of the attack on the nanotubes by the electrolyte. X-Ray diffraction analysis showed that after annealing TiO 2 crystallizes in the tetragonal lattice as anatase structure. Peak fitting method for line profile analysis was employed to estimate the crystallite size and the micro strain. The oxide nanotubes formed in neutral medium showed smaller crystallite size (28.91 nm) than the one formed in acidic medium (43.37 nm). Wettability measurements showed wetting angles <60°, indicating hydrophilic nature of the anatase nanotubes. Further, both the dimensional aspect (i.e., length and diameter of nanotubes) and the crystallite size have significant effect on the hydrophilic behavior. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in a simulated body fluid environment confirmed that structural changes in the oxide layer influence the electrochemical properties. Polarization studies demonstrated that crystallite size affects the passive behavior of the nanotubes. Smaller crystallite size (28.91 nm) lowers the passive current density (0.11 μA cm -2 ), indicating the good protectiveness. © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
About the journal
JournalData powered by TypesetApplied Surface Science
PublisherData powered by TypesetElsevier B.V.
ISSN01694332
Open AccessNo
Concepts (27)
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    Annealing
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    Chromium compounds
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    Electric impedance
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    Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
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    Electrochemical properties
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    Electrolytes
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    Fluorine compounds
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    Hydrophilicity
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    Nanotubes
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    Polarization
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    Scanning electron microscopy
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    Sodium sulfate
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    SULFUR COMPOUNDS
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    Surface morphology
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    Titanium dioxide
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    Wetting
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    X ray diffraction analysis
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    Yarn
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    Anodization process
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    Anodizations
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    Line profile analysis
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    NEUTRAL ELECTROLYTES
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    PASSIVE CURRENT DENSITIES
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    Simulated body fluids
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    TIO2 NANOTUBES
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    WETTABILITY MEASUREMENTS
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    Crystallite size