Synthesis and Applications of Titanium Oxide Nanotube Thin Films

Abstract

Layer-by-layer or vertically aligned TiO2 nanotube thin films were fabricated by using hydrothermally grown titanate nanotubes. These films were optically transparent and exhibited various functions. Layer-by-layer growth of TiO2 nanotubes on glass substrates was achieved by alternate layer deposition using an aqueous solution of colloidal titanate nanotubes and that of a polycation. These films exhibited photoinduced hydrophilic conversion, low-reflectivity, and significant electrochromism, owing to their unique one dimensional open-pore nanostructure. In addition, transparent thin films of vertically aligned TiO2 nanotube arrays were grown by a hydrothermal treatment of metal Ti thin film on glass substrates. These nanotube arrays were well adhered to the substrates and exhibited super-hydrophilicity even under the dark condition and the efficient electron field emission.