Anodic growth of uniform nanotube arrays on biphase Ti35Nb5Zr alloy

We report uniform anodization of biphase Ti35Nb5Zr alloy to form doped nanotube arrays in nonaqueous glycerol-based electrolytes rather than in traditional aqueous electrolytes. The electrolyte type played an important role in determining the formation of uniform nanotube arrays. Through using the glycerol-based electrolytes, phase-dependent anodization effect was greatly minimized at both the α-phase regions and the β-phase regions, which makes it possible to grow uniform nanotube arrays on the biphase alloy. The reported anodization method is expected to be useful in fabricating uniformly doped nanotubes on a variety of biphase Ti alloys.