The growth of oriented titanate nanotube thin film on titanium metal flake

In this study, oriented titanate nanotubes thin films grow on titanium metal surface via a hydrothermal surface treatment process. A combined SEM and TEM investigation of the reaction products as the functions of reaction temperature, duration and concentration of NaOH solution reveal that several hundreds nanometer long nanotubes are formed by using 10 M NaOH at 110–150 °C for 6–48 h. A general formation mechanism of oriented titanate nanotube thin film was proposed in terms of the detailed observation of the products. The overall formation of titanate nanotubes can be summarized, as a sequence of layered trititanate formation, splitting and scrolling process.