PREPARATION OF NANO-TUBULAR TITANIA SUBSTRATE WITH OXYGEN VACANCIES AND THEIR USE IN PHOTO-ELECTROLYSIS OF WATER

摘要

The invention relates to a method of making a nanotubular titania substrate having a titanium dioxide surface comprised of a plurality of vertically oriented titanium dioxide nanotubes containing oxygen vacancies, including the steps of anodizing a titanium metal substrate in an acidified fluoride electrolyte and annealing the titanium oxide surface in a non-oxidating atmosphere. The invention further relates to a nanotubular titania substrate having an annealed titanium dioxide surface comprised of self-ordered titanium dioxide nanotubes containing oxygen vacancies. The invention further relates to a photo-electrolysis method for generating H₂ wherein the photo-anode is a nanotubular titania substrate of the invention. The invention also relates to an electrochemical method of synthesizing CdZn/CdZnTe nanowires, wherein a nanoporous TiO₂ template was used in combination with non-aqueous electrolyte. The invention also relates to a nanotubular titania substrate having CdTe or CdZnTe nanowires extending therefrom.