Self-Ordering Process of Hexagonal Cells in Porous Anodic TiO₂ Nanotubes

• DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.805-806.1330
• Publication Date: 2013-09-11T14:50:14Z
• Authors: Shao Yu Zhang; Qun Fang Gui; Xiao Min Zhong; Xi Chen; Hua Peng Xiao; Xu Fei Zhu
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

Cylindrical TiO2nanotubes and hexagonal TiO2nanotubes were obtained in the anodizing process of titanium in fluoride-containing electrolyte. Based on the experimental findings and viscous flow model, a mechanism of self-ordering process of hexagonal cells arrangement for porous anodic TiO2nanotubes (PATNT) is proposed in this paper. The analysis results show that oxygen evolution in the pore bottoms plays an important role in the self-ordering process. Oxide grows around the oxygen bubbles in the pore bottoms, which results in the formation of cylindrical TiO2nanotubes. Volume expansion of TiO2takes place during the anodizing process. Plastic deformation and repulsive force caused by volume expansion are responsible for self-ordering process of PATNT hexagonal cells.