TiO2 nanotubes doped by AG, AU and PT or covered BY AG, AU AND PT nanodotes and their application as nanomotors

Abstract

An anodic oxidation of titanium foils in an electrolyte containing a mixture of hydrofluoric acid, ethylene glycol, and phosphoric acid was used to obtain titania nanotube arrays. The initially amorphous nanotubes were crystalized in an anatase phase upon thermal treatment at 500 oC. The impact of doping with Ag, Pt, and Au noble metals as well as covering of sample surfaces with noble metal nanoparticles upon their capabilities to photocatalytically degrade the Rhodamine B was investigated. A positive effect was revealed for samples doped with Ag.