STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF NH4F CONCENTRATION ON THE STRUCTURE OF ELECTROCHEMICALLY PREPARED TiO2 NANOTUBES

In this study Titania nanotube arrays were prepared at room temperature (~25 ºC) via electrochemical anodization process of pure titanium foil in glycerol base electrolyte, different concentrations of ammonium fluoride salt (0.5 and 1.5wt.%) were added to the electrolyte as a tube enhancing agent. When anodizing Ti in 0.5 wt. % NH4F, nanotubes are formed with 54 ± 10 nm tube diameter, 20 ± 3 nm wall thickness and 1.76 μm tube length. When anodizing Ti in 1.5 wt. % NH4F, nanotubes are formed with 69 ± 10 nm tube diameter, 29 ± 3 nm wall thickness and 2.71 μm tube length. The morphology and structure of the Titania films were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). PACS numbers: 81.65.Mg, 82.45. +z, 81.10.-h.