Decrypting the growth of anodic TiO2 nanotube layers in eco-friendly fluoride-free nitrate-based electrolyte for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants
Thirunavukkarasu G. K., Hanif M. B., Liapun V., Hensel K., Kupčík J., Lorincik J., Elantyev I., Monfort O., Motola M.
Mater. Res. Bull. 165, 112322, 7 pp (2023)
download
|
|
Abstract: Anodic TiO2 nanotube (TNT) layers were prepared in eco-friendly fluoride-free organic-aqueous-based electrolytes containing cerium ammonium nitrate. Nanotubes with controllable pore diameter, tube length, porosity, and surface roughness were obtained by varying compositions of ethylene glycol (E) or water (W) in the electrolytes. TNT layers nanotubular morphology was optimized with different electrolyte compositions for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) under UVA irradiation. Optimized TNT layers prepared using E75%W25% electrolyte grew to a length of approx. 1.9 μm with a pore diameter of 33 nm exhibited the highest photocatalytic rate (k = 0.0151 min-1) in MB degradation. Finally, the mechanism of MB degradation using the prepared TNT layers was investigated by quantifying the production of hydroxyl radicals (HO●).
|
