Formation of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles by Anodization of Valve Metals

Abstract

TiO₂ nanoparticles (TNPs) were successfully formed by anodization of Ti foil in aqueous (100 mL of Na₂SO₄) and an organic (glycerol/H₂O) electrolyte containing 0.7 g of NH4Cl at 20 V for 60 min. The morphology of the formed TNPs was discussed. It was found that TNPs and can be formed in both aqueous and organic electrolytes. The diameter of TNPs formed in organic and inorganic solution was generally in the range of 50 nm to 100 nm and the length is in the range of 300 nm to 700 nm. XRD analysis revealed an amorphous phase of the as-anodized sample regardless of the electrolytes used in this work. The thermal annealing at 700 °C indicated the sample dominated by the presence of rutile phase together with anatase phase mixture.