Synthesis of titania nanotube arrays by anodization

Titania nanotube arrays were synthesized in glycerol, ethylene glycol and carboxymethylcellulose as base materials. The effects of anodization voltage and time, as well as chemical composition and pH of the electrolyte bath were studied. Nanotube arrays with an inner diameter ranging from 16 to 91 nm, and wall thickness ranging from 7 to 29 nm were fabricated in a glycerol-water electrolyte. Water content of 5 wt% or higher was found to be essential for nanotubes fabrication in glycerol electrolyte. Using modified ethylene glycol (containing 2 wt % and 0.5 wt % NH4F) instead of glycerol, resulted in nanotube length up to 430 nm after 1.5 hr anodization time. Nanotube arrays were also successfully fabricated in 2 wt % sodium carboxy mythylcellulose aqueous electrolyte (CMC electrolyte). These nanotube arrays had an inner diameter of 42 nm similar to those fabricated in 2 wt % urea-ethylene glycol electrolyte but their length was 450 nm