Fabrication of Titanium dioxide nanotube photo-electrodes in different electrolyte mixtures and the impacts on their characteristics and photo-catalytic abilities under visible light

TiO2 nanotube arrays were fabricated using electrochemical anodization of titanium foils, where different types of electrolytes were tested to determine conceptual choice for nanotubes fabrication. These electrolytes are 1M (NH4)2SO4 containing 0.5% wt NH4F, 1M Na2SO4 containing 0.5% wt NH4F, 1M NaF containing 0.5% wt (NH4)2SO4 and a mixture of water: ethylene glycol 1:9 containing 0.5% wt NH4F. The foils were marked as EG type (Ethylene Glycol), AS type (Ammonium sulfate), SS type (sodium sulfate) and SF type (sodium fluoride). The photocatalytic capabilities and characterization of the fabricated NTAs were analyzed using SEM, XRD, and DRS. The degradation ratio of designated organic pollutants (Rhodamine B) was analyzed. The obtained results have proven that foils fabricated using Ethylene glycol have significant photocatalytic abilities, with a degradation ratio of EG-SS-SF-AS types being 80% to 85%, 70% to 80%, 70% to 75% and 52% to 55%, respectively.