Photocatalytic Activity of Titanium Dioxide Nanotubes Following Long-Term Aging

Anodic titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanotubes were found to be active photocatalysts. These photocatalysts possess a high surface area, even when supported, rendering them potential candidates for water treatment. In this work, photocatalytic surfaces were produced by anodizing commercially pure Ti plates using two different electrolyte compositions and correspondingly diverse process parameters. Changes in the physical and chemical stability as well as photocatalytic activity were studied over a fifty-two-week aging process. During this period, the nanotubular surfaces were exposed to flowing synthetic greywater, solar irradiation, and the natural environment. The physical and phase stability of the materials anodized using the organic electrolyte were found to be outstanding and no degradation or change in crystalline structure was observed. On the other hand, materials anodized in the aqueous electrolyte proved to suffer from light-induced phase transition from anatase to rutile. Surfaces synthesized in the organic electrolyte were more resistant to fouling and showed a better tendency to recover photocatalytic activity upon cleaning. In conclusion, the nanotubes produced in the organic electrolyte proved to be stable, rendering them potentially suitable for real-life applications.