Tailoring TiO2 nanotube growth during anodic oxidation by crystallographic orientation of Ti

TiO2 nanotubes exhibit remarkable photoelectrochemical, gas sensing and biological properties. Here we show that TiO2 nanotube growth can be tailored by the intrinsic crystallographic orientation of the Ti substrate. This finding presents an exciting new approach for tailoring and controlling the rate of nanotube formation by crystallographic manipulation and modification of the Ti surface.