Preparation of anatase phase titanium dioxide film by non-aqueous electrodeposition

• Anatase-TiO2 film was fabricated by electrodeposition–annealing route
• DMF solution containing titanium salt was used for electrodeposition
• Continuous film (~ 350 nm thick) was obtained by controlled-potential electrolysis
• Liner sweep voltammetry was performed in sulfate solution on the annealed film
• Photosensitized electrolytic oxidation on the annealed film was confirmed

The electrodeposition–annealing route to fabricating thin film of the promising photocatalyst material anatase-titanium dioxide (anatase-TiO2) has been studied. The sample was deposited with a solution of N,N-dimethylformamide containing titanium compound by controlled-potential technique. SEM image showed the annealed sample at 600 °C for 1 h under air provided a continuous film with a thickness of ca. 350 nm. In this sample, X-ray photoelectron spectrum corresponding to the Ti 2p peak assigned to a chemical bond of TiO2 and X-ray diffraction peaks assigned to the anatase phase were observed, respectively. Electrochemical oxidation in sodium sulfate solution on this annealed film was enhanced in the presence of UV light radiation. These results confirm the successful synthesis of photocatalytic anatase-TiO2 film by the electrodeposition and annealing process.