Photocathodic protection properties of three-dimensional titanate nanowire network films prepared by a combined sol–gel and hydrothermal method

A combined sol–gel and hydrothermal method was developed for preparing a three-dimensional titanate nanowire network film on titanium substrates to achieve an especial photocathodic protection effect for 403 stainless steel. Photopotential measurements were performed to study the protection effect of the film. The results indicated that the titanate film exhibited a special all-dimensional uniform porous structure composed of branched titanate nanowires. When we coupled the steel in a 0.5 M NaCl solution to the titanate film photoanode in a 1.0 M NaOH solution under illumination, its potential decreased by 560 mV. Especially after the light source was cut off, the photopotential of the steel increased by only 50–145 mV, and kept at the lower values than the corrosion potential under dark conditions for over 10 h, indicating that the titanate nanowire network film could produce a striking photocathodic protection effect for 403 stainless steel under illumination and dark conditions.