Sodium removal from titanate nanotubes in electrodeposition process

The titanate nanotubes were synthesized using hydrothermal process using commercial titania nanoparticles in 10 M sodium hydroxide solution at ∼150-200 °C, for 30-60 h. Subsequently, the titanate coatings are fabricated on 〈1 0 0〉 silicon substrates using electrodeposition method, at 80 V and at room temperature. The specimens are characterized using various techniques such as field-emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction, electron probe microanalysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It is observed that sodium content of titanate nanotubes is reduces drastically in electrodeposition process. This is very striking and has far reaching consequences.