Synthesis of photocatalytic TiO2 nanotubes on additively manufactured Ti-alloy substrates

Abstract

The pursuit of sustainable and clean energy sources has led to the exploration of green hydrogen as a versatile and eco-friendly energy carrier. This research paper focuses on the application of photocatalytic electrolysis, particularly utilizing titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes, for efficient hydrogen production. The study investigates the synthesis of TiO2 nanotubes on additive manufacturing (AM)-produced substrates and explores the effects of post-synthesis annealing and cleaning techniques. The results demonstrate well-organized and uniform nanotubes, with the morphology depending on the annealing ramp rate. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals a phase transformation to anatase with a grain size of approximately 28 nm upon annealing. The study emphasizes the importance of post-synthesis cleaning in achieving desired nanotube surfaces. Cleaning with ethanol followed by 10 vol% HCl produces well-organized nanotubes of varying sizes. Overall, the research contributes to the understanding of surface modification techniques and nanostructured architectures for optimizing hydrogen photoelectrodes. The study also highlights the potential of AM in advanced fabrication methods for improved photoelectrochemical electrodes and offers valuable insights for future work in this field.