Preparation of extremely smooth and boron-fluorine co-doped TiO_2 nanotube arrays with enhanced photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic performance

摘要

Highly ordered TiO_2 nanotube arrays (BF-TNTs) are prepared by anodization method in the unique NH_4BF_4 based electrolyte. The results show that the tube walls of the BF-TNTs, by first using NH_4BF_4 based electrolyte, are much smoother than that of TiO_2 nanotube arrays (F-TNTs) fabricated with a conventional fluoride containing electrolyte. In the NH_4BF_4 electrolyte, boron and fluorine elements are simultaneously doped into the obtained BF-TNTs during the anodization process. The BF-TNTs exhibit better photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties and photocatalytic (PC) performance than those of F-TNTs.