Anodic TiO_2-nanotubes and mesosponge: growth, properties and application

摘要

Self-organized nanotubular structures of transition metal oxides grown on their metallic substrates, especially titanium, have attracted great scientific and technological interest due to the possibility to exploit their functional properties (such as in photocatalysis, solar energy conversion or as host for Li insertion). A conventional way to grow anodic TiO_2 nanostructures is an electrochemical treatment of metallic Ti in an optimized electrolyte. This article attempts to give a compact overview on the most relevant TiO_2 nanomorphologies obtained by this straightforward method e.g. nanotubes, nanobamboo, nanolace, nanocolumns, nanotubular powders, TiO_2 mesosponge (TMS) and superlattice nanotube arrays and the most promising application of such advanced self-organized structures.