Template synthesis of well-aligned titanium dioxide nanotubes

TiO₂ nanotubes of the anatase form have been synthesized by sol-gel chemical method using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) as a template. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction were used to investigate the structure and morphology of the TiO₂ nanotubes. The results showed that TiO₂ nanotubes obtained are highly ordered and uniform. The diameter and length of the obtained nanotubes were determined by the pore size and the thickness of AAO template. It was found that through control of immersion time of AAO membrane in sol, both tubules and fibrils can be prepared.