Preparation and Characterization of Cu Loaded TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanotube Arrays and their Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

This paper described the preparation of Cu loaded TiO₂ nanotube arrays. Firstly, TiO₂ nanotube arrays were formed by anodization. Afterwards, the formed nanotube arrays were incorporated with Cu by wet impregnation method. The soaking time and concentration were varied to obtain an optimum set of parameter for Cu incorporation in TiO₂ nanotubes. After anodization, all samples were annealed at 400°C for 4 hours to obtain anatase phase. The nanotube arrays were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and x-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). An average diameter 63.02 nm and length 12.15µm were obtained for TiO₂ nanotubes. The photocatalytic activity of these nanotubes were investigated with methyl orange (MO) and the TiO₂ nanotube prepared in 0.01M of Cu (NO₃)₂ solution within 3 hours demonstrates the highest photocatalytic activity with 83.6% degradation of methyl orange. Keywords: copper doping, wet impregnation, photocatalytic activity