A facile method to grow V-doped TiO2 hydrophilic layers with nano-sheet morphology

V-doped titania layers with a novel morphology and a rough surface were grown the via micro arc oxidation process in the electrolytes consisting of sodium vanadate under various voltages. Morphological investigations, performed by SEM, revealed that the layers had a sheet-like structure whose average thickness was less than 100 nm depending on the applied voltage. Our XRD and XPS results showed that the layers consisted of anatase, rutile, and vanadia phases with a varying fraction depending on the voltage. Hydrophilicity of the layers was also studied by measuring the water contact angle on their surfaces under ultraviolet and visible illuminations. The layer synthesized under the voltage of 450 V exhibited the highest hydrophilicity.