Preparation of titanate nanotube thin film using hydrothermal method

In this study, the technology to grow nanotube thin film from dip-coated TiO2 using hydrothermal method has been developed. The structure and stability of the film has been studied through the study of preparation parameters. A general formation mechanism of titanate nanotube thin film is proposed in terms of the detailed observation of the products via two dimensional surface scanning electron microscopy studies and transmission electron microscopy images. The overall formation can be summarized with three successive steps: (1) Transform TiO2 to hydrated polytitanate layer; (2) Layered trititanate formation and growth process; (3) Formation of nanotube thin film via trititanate splitting and multilayer scrolling process of (100) planes around the c axis.