Generation and field emission of titania nanotube arrays prepared with a fast anodization process enabled by use of a deep eutectic solvent

[[abstract]]©2007 AIChE - A fast anodization process was developed to fabricate well aligned, smooth titania nanotube arrays. The resulted titania nanotubes were with a diameter of 20-30 nm, tube wall thickness of 5-10 nm, and length of 4.5 µm. The tube growth rate can be as high as 0.9 µm/min, much faster than those of other titania nanotube growth processes, made possible by use of a deep eutectic solvent in the electrolyte. These titania nanotubes were vertically grown and adhered very well to the substrate. After a post-annealing treatment at 500 oC in air, the nanotubes acquired crystallinity and exhibited excellent field emission characteristics: a turn on field of 1.5 V/µm for a current density of 1µA/cm2 and a threshold field of 2.2 V/µm for a current density of 1mA/cm2. The field enhancement factor was estimated to be around 4300.[[department]]化學工程