Controllable preparation of TiO2 nanotubes and their photocatalytic performance

Abstract

Abstract Ethylene glycol aqueous solution containing 0.5% NH4F was used as the electrolyte and the Ti foil was oxidized at 40 V for 30 min to obtain TiO2 nanotube arrays with an inner diameter of about 85 nm. After heat treatment at 450 °C for 2 h, the TiO2 nanotubes transformed from an amorphous phase to anatase, and a small percentage of the nanotubes collapsed. The Pt loaded by electrodeposition appeared at the nozzle of the nanotubes in a flake morphology.The best catalytic effect on methylene blue degradation was achieved by Pt loading with electrodeposition for 120 s.The methylene blue degradation rate reached 50% after 10 h of ultraviolet irradiation.