Anodization Time Research Articles

Integrating theoretical and experimental insights into nanoporous gold electrochemistry for enhanced baicalein sensing performance

We introduce an innovative electrochemical sensing method for the sensitive detection of Baicalein (BAI), emphasizing a simple surface modification process. The study encompasses both practical and theoretical investigations into the electrochemical behavior of nanoporous gold. Our theoretical analysis, based on advanced quantum-mechanical calculations, demonstrates that the adsorption of BAI molecule on gold-based substrates is energetically favorable, with adsorption energy increasing from an unmodified surface to a more porous substrate. BAI physisorbs on unmodified regions in a horizontal alignment, while it chemisorbs more strongly on nanoporous regions by penetrating the pores. On less modified surfaces, interaction energy predominates, whereas on heavily modified surfaces, distortion energies become more significant due to increased substrate reactivity. These results align with physicochemical characterizations, which reveal that nanoscale modifications, induced by different anodization times, explain the variations in electrode performance. Experimentally, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were employed using both a gold electrode (GE) and a nanoporous gold electrode (NPGE). The GE was subjected to surface treatment by immersion in H2SO4 and potential control at ca. +2.0 V for 40 seconds, resulting in a nanoporous configuration. Following optimizations, Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry (AdSV) was used to determine BAI. The method achieved detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) limits of 0.015 µmol L-1 and 0.045 µmol L-1, respectively (Edeposition=-0.25 V; tdeposition=50 s). Additionally, the standard addition method was applied to the NPGE for recovering BAI from spiked synthetic human plasma and urine, with success rates ranging from 93.4% to 106%. This approach exhibited excellent stability, precision, and accuracy, with minimal interference from other substances. Moreover, the theoretical findings provided deeper insights into the selective electrochemical detection of BAI on nanoporous gold surfaces, offering new perspectives on this field.

Study on electrochemical anodization initiation and progression of binderless tungsten carbide (WC) through experimentation and simulation

This article explores the electrochemical anodization of binderless tungsten carbide (WC) using computational simulations and experimental methods. It aims to comprehend the complex relationship between anodization time, surface roughness, elemental composition, and current behavior on polished and non-polished substrates. COMSOL Multiphysics models provide the initial findings by meticulously mapping the electrolyte's potential and the current density vectors. These simulations reveal the fundamental electrochemical behaviors anticipated during anodization, particularly emphasizing the regions near the anode expected to undergo anodization. Experimental observations confirm the simulation results, showcasing how non-polished WC surfaces, replete with inherent imperfections, undergo anodization characterized by fluctuating current densities and compositional changes, highlighting the profound influence of surface defects on electrochemical processes. On the other hand, when WC substrates are polished, they show a more consistent and controlled anodization process. This suggests a close connection between the occurrence of anodization and the surface treatment, ultimately influencing the effectiveness of anodization. This comprehensive study, which combines simulation and experimentation, greatly enhances the understanding of the electrochemical anodization of WC. It suggests potential methods for enhancing surface modifications to expand the range of applications for WC, particularly in precision glass molding, aerospace, and medical industries.

Near-Ideal Copper Oxide Heterostructure Design for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.

In recent years, photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen generation through water splitting has gained significant attention as a carbon-free solar-to-energy conversion strategy. Among various materials, copper oxides, specifically cupric oxide (CuO) and cuprous oxide (Cu2O), have been extensively investigated for their suitable band positions and prominent performance, particularly in heterostructures. However, previously reported heterostructures, such as CuO layers on Cu2O, are not ideal configurations in terms of photoelectrical properties. In this study, we introduce the fabrication approach for an ideal heterostructure consisting of Cu2O nanowires on a CuO/Cu2O mixed-phase film, fabricated by a straightforward electrochemical/thermal method. The Cu2O nanowire with Cr layer (CNwC) shows potential for solar energy harvesting due to its suitable band positions and narrow bandgap, enabling enhanced photoabsorption across the entire visible spectrum. A thin chromium (Cr) layer underlying the nanostructure contributes to the formation of the ideal copper oxide heterostructure, acting as an adhesive and protective layer. The Cr layer is oxidized during the fabrication process of the CNwC and supports the hydrogen evolution reaction for water splitting. Moreover, the anodization time critically influences the phase composition, size, and density of the nanowires. Under optimal conditions, collective and slanted Cu2O nanowires can absorb incident light, maximizing both photon absorption and photon-to-energy conversion efficiency.

Electrodeposited ZnO Nanostructures on ITO Surfaces: Exploring Their Efficacy for Cholesterol Biosensing Applications

In this study, ZnO nanostructures were prepared by electrochemical anodization of electrodeposited Zn on ITO/glass substrates for cholesterol detection. The efficiency of the developed ZnO nanostructures in the detection of the Cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) enzyme was determined by the cyclic voltammetry method. The XRD and SEM results confirmed the synthesis of ZnO nanostructures prepared by the anodization method with various parameters. The effect of electrodeposition and anodization time on the morphology was observed. Cyclic voltammetry of ZnO/Zn/ITO/glass and Pt/ZnO/Zn/ITO/glass electrodes in electrolytes with various cholesterol concentrations was performed. The detection limit of the obtained Pt/ZnO/Zn/ITO/glass structured electrode was calculated as 0.965x10-3M. The resulting material with a layered structure may have potential applications in electrochemical sensors and biosensors in biomedical applications. In addition to biosensing performance, this study proposes a new approach for the development of ZnO-based biosensors that does not require expensive infrastructure and raw material costs, making it possible to develop high-sensitivity biosensor electrodes with lower detection limits with improvements to be made in future studies.

Improving photoelectrochemical performance of transferred TiO2 nanotubes onto FTO substrate with Mo2C and NiS as Co-catalyst

The photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of titanium dioxide nanotube (TiO2 NT) photoelectrodes for sustainable hydrogen production has garnered significant research interest. Despite the advantages of TiO2 NT fabricated via anodization of titanium metal, such as their well-ordered vertical structure, challenges persist including the thick oxide barrier layer, limited optical transparancy, and the wide energy band gap (∼3.0 eV), which constrain their practical efficiency in PEC applications. This study addresses these limitations by introducing a novel approch to transfer TiO2 NT onto a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. TiO2 NTs were synthesized with varying anodization times and steps to achieve optimal free-standing structures. To further enhance PEC performance, co-catalyst including molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) and nickel sulfide (NiS) were incorporated using immersion and successive ionic layer adsorption reaction (SILAR) methods, respectively. Comprehensive characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible–near infrared (UV–Vis–NIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) provided insights into the crystal phase, morphological structure, band gap, and elemental composition of the photoelectrodes. Photoelectrochemical and photostability evaluations were conducted through linear scan voltammetry (LSV) and chronoamperometry under dark and light conditions. Results indicate that transferring TiO2 NTs onto FTO significantly enhanced photocurrent density, achieving a 2.5-fold increase at 0.7 V versus a TiO2 NT/Ti substrate. The incorporating of co-catalysts Mo2C, NiS and the combined NiS/Mo2C further enhanced the photocurrent density to 2.20, 3.00 and 8.00 mA cm−2 respectively, with a remarkable 31-fold enhancement compared to the TiO2 NT/Ti substrate. This findings underscore the potential of the TiO₂ NT/FTO photoelectrode with optimized co-catalyst integration for advanced photoelectrochemical applications.

Mitigating fuel cladding chemical interactions by enhancing chromium diffusion barrier performance using pulse reverse electroplating

Fuel cladding chemical interaction (FCCI) is a critical issue affecting the safe usage of metallic nuclear fuel in sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs). Although a chromium (Cr) coating diffusion barrier has been developed to effectively mitigate FCCI, Cr coatings formed by direct current (DC) and pulse current (PC) electroplating generate hydrogen-induced micro-cracks that reduce diffusion barrier performance. In this study, electroplating with a pulse reverse (PR) current and optimized anodic time was utilized to minimize the effects of hydrogen. Consequently, this approach enabled the formation of a crack-free and highly stable microstructure in the electroplated Cr coating. A diffusion couple test (FCCI test) was conducted at 923 K for 25 h to evaluate that the diffusion barrier performance of the Cr coating formed by DC, PC and PR electroplating. The test results demonstrate the superior diffusion barrier performance of the Cr coating formed by PR electroplating through a systematic analysis comparing the microstructures of Cr coatings formed by different waveforms.

Development of Novel Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy-Based Biosensors by Controlling the Roughness of Gold/Alumina Platforms for Highly Sensitive Detection of Pyocyanin Secreted from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Pyocyanin is considered a maker of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) infection. Pyocyanin is among the toxins released by the P. aeruginosa bacteria. Therefore, the development of a direct detection of PYO is crucial due to its importance. Among the different optical techniques, the Raman technique showed unique advantages because of its fingerprint data, no sample preparation, and high sensitivity besides its ease of use. Noble metal nanostructures were used to improve the Raman response based on the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique. Anodic metal oxide attracts much interest due to its unique morphology and applications. The porous metal structure provides a large surface area that could be used as a hard template for periodic nanostructure array fabrication. Porous shapes and sizes could be controlled by controlling the anodization parameters, including the anodization voltage, current, temperature, and time, besides the metal purity and the electrolyte type/concentration. The anodization of aluminum foil results in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) formation with different roughness. Here, we will use the roughness as hotspot centers to enhance the Raman signals. Firstly, a thin film of gold was deposited to develop gold/alumina (Au/AAO) platforms and then applied as SERS-active surfaces. The morphology and roughness of the developed substrates were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The Au/AAO substrates were used for monitoring pyocyanin secreted from Pseudomonas aeruginosa microorganisms based on the SERS technique. The results showed that the roughness degree affects the enhancement efficiency of this sensor. The high enhancement was obtained in the case of depositing a 30 nm layer of gold onto the second anodized substrates. The developed sensor showed high sensitivity toward pyocyanin with a limit of detection of 96 nM with a linear response over a dynamic range from 1 µM to 9 µM.

Investigation of the evolution and corrosion resistance mechanism of anodized film on Ta surface

The tantalum oxide film was fabricated using an anodization process in a 0.5M H2SO4 electrolyte. The evolution and corrosion resistance mechanism of anodized film on the Ta surface has been investigated by experiments and theoretical calculations. The results indicate that the sample with an anodic oxidation voltage of 20V and an anodic oxidation time of 60 min (Ta20-60) exhibits the thickest oxidation film, measuring 360.00 nm and comprising an outer porous layer and an inner dense layer. Ta20-60 demonstrates the highest Ecorr value of 0.009 V and the lowest Icorr value of 0.879 μA cm−2, with a minimal density of point defects at 1.24 × 1019 cm−3, which imparts superior corrosion resistance. The calculation result shows that the growth rate of Ta anodic oxidation film is controlled by the diffusion and migration of vacancy defects. The O atom passes through one bridge site from the tetrahedral gap to another tetrahedral gap (Path 1) on the complete (110) surface has a low diffusion barrier of 0.470 eV and the shortest diffusion path of 2.04 Å, which is the most favorable path for the diffusion of O atoms. This paper offers a fresh perspective on the corrosion resistance of tantalum while furnishing guidance for improving Ta oxide film performance.

Impact of Air-Cathodes on Operational Stability of Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell Biosensors for Wastewater Monitoring

The increasing global water pollution leads to the need for urgent development of rapid and accurate water quality monitoring methods. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged as real-time biosensors for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), but they grapple with several challenges, including issues related to reproducibility, operational stability, and cost-effectiveness. These challenges are substantially shaped by the selection of an appropriate air-breathing cathode. Previous studies indicated a critical influence of the cathode on both the enduring electrochemical performance of MFCs and the taxonomic diversity at the electroactive anode. However, the effect of different gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) on 3D-printed single-chamber MFCs for BOD biosensing application and its effect on the bioelectroactive anode was not investigated before. Our study focuses on comparing GDE cathode materials to enhance MFC performance for precise and rapid BOD analysis in wastewater. We examined for over 120 days two Pt-coated air-breathing cathodes with distinct carbonaceous gas diffusion layers (GDLs) and catalyst layers (CLs): cost-effective carbon paper (CP) with hand-coated CL and more expensive woven carbon cloth (CC) with CL pre-applied by the supplier. The results show significant differences in electrochemical characteristics and anodic biofilm composition between MFCs with CP and CC GDE cathodes. CP-MFCs exhibited lower sensitivity (16.6 C L mg−1 m−2) and a narrower dynamic range (25 to 600 mg L−1), attributed to biofouling-related degradation of the GDE. In contrast, CC-MFCs demonstrated superior performance with higher sensitivity (37.6 C L mg−1 m−2) and a broader dynamic range (25 to 800 mg L−1). In conclusion, our study underscores the pivotal role of cathode selection in 3D-printed MFC biosensors, influencing anodic biofilm enrichment time and overall BOD assessment performance. We recommend the use of cost-effective CP GDL with hand-coated CL for short-term MFC biosensor applications, while advocating for CC GDL supplied with CL as the preferred choice for long-term sensing implementations with enduring reliability.

Optimization of automated anodizing plant efficiency and process prediction using Random Forest based Levy flight method

The anodizing process is mainly carried out by industrialists to protect aluminium components from corrosion and strengthen their physical and chemical behavior. The goal of this study is to minimize the total cycle time of aluminum anodizing by optimizing pre-treatment procedures and forecasting the anodization process time. The experiments were carried out at the GOLDEN ANODIZER premises, a local aluminum anodizing industry in Coimbatore, India. The relationship between various anodizing pre-treatment parameters such as Nitric bath pH, Caustic pH, alkaline pH, Mean time duration was optimized to reduce time without affecting output qualities like Surface finish (µm), Film thickness (µm), and correction (%). Also, the anodizing pre-treatment process parameters were predicted using a hybrid machine learning method called the Random Forest Levy Flight Algorithm (RF-LFA). The proposed RF-LFA shows 2–3 times better prediction performance than existing RF and deep neural networks.

Anodic Production and Characterization of Biomimetic Oxide Layers on Grade 4 Titanium for Medical Applications.

Biomaterials are the basis for the development of medicine because they allow safe contact with a living organism. The aim of this work was to produce innovative oxide layers with a microporous structure on the surface of commercially pure titanium Grade 4 (CpTi G4) and to characterize their properties as drug carriers. The anodization of the CpTi G4 subjected to mechanical grinding and electrochemical polishing was carried out in a solution of 1M ethylene glycol with the addition of 40 g of ammonium fluoride at a voltage of 20 V for 2, 18, 24, and 48 h at room temperature. It was found that the longer the anodization time, the greater the number of pores formed on the CpTi G4 surface as revealed using the FE-SEM method, and the greater the surface roughness determined in profilometric tests. As the anodizing time increases, the amount of the drug in the form of gentamicin sulfate incorporated into the resulting pores decreases. The most favorable drug release kinetics profile determined via UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy was found for the CpTi G4 anodized for 2 h.

Corrosion of Anodized Titanium Alloys

Ti and Ti alloys are employed in demanding industries such as aerospace, automotive, biomedical, aeronautic, structural, naval, and chemical, thanks to their resistance to corrosion due to the formation of the TiO2 film on the surface. Diverse research has established that different corrosive media could attack the oxide layer. One way to generate a stable, compact, and continuous oxide film is through anodizing treatment. The efficiency of anodization depends on diverse factors such as the microstructure, chemical composition of alloys, pH of electrolyte, time, and temperature of anodizing. This review aims to examine the corrosion resistance of the anodized layer on Ti and Ti alloys, with different parameters. The discussion is centered on the influence of the different parameters and alloy properties in the effectivity of anodizing when they are characterized by electrochemical techniques while studying the behavior of oxide.

Fabrication and Optimisation of Alumina Nanoporous Membranes for Drug Delivery Applications: A Comparative Study.

Neurodegenerative disorders cause most physical and mental disabilities, and therefore require effective treatment. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) prevents drug molecules from crossing from the blood to the brain, making brain drug delivery difficult. Implantable devices could provide sustained and regulated medication to solve this problem. Two electrolytes (0.3 M oxalic acid and 0.3 M sulphuric acid) were used to anodise Al2O3 nanoporous membranes, followed by a third anodisation in concentrated H2SO4 to separate the through-hole membranes from the aluminium substrate. FTIR, AFM, and SEM/EDX were used to characterise the membranes' structure and morphology. The effects of the anodisation time and electrolyte type on the AAO layer pore density, diameter, interpore distance, and thickness were examined. As a model drug for neurodegenerative disorders, donepezil hydrochloride (DHC) was loaded onto thin alumina nanoporous membranes. The DHC release profiles were characterised at two concentrations using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Oxalic acid membranes demonstrated an average pore diameter of 39.6-32.5 nm, which was two times larger than sulphuric acid membranes (22.6-19.7 nm). After increasing the anodisation time from 3 to 5 h, all of the membranes showed a reduction in pore diameter that was stable regardless of the electrolyte type or period. Drug release from oxalic acid-fabricated membranes was controlled and sustained for over 2 weeks. Thus, nanoporous membranes as implantable drug delivery systems could improve neurodegenerative disease treatment.

Comparative investigation of structural, morphological, mechanical, tribological and electrochemical properties of TiO2 films formed on Cp-Ti, Ti6Al4V and Ti45Nb alloys

This study focuses on the comparison of structural, morphological, mechanical, tribological and electrochemical properties of TiO2 films fabricated on Cp-Ti, Ti6Al4V and Ti45Nb alloys, which are widely used in different industries. For this purpose, TiO2 films were grown on Cp-Ti, Ti6Al4V and Ti45Nb materials by anodization method. Structural, morphological and mechanical properties of the samples were determined using XRD, SEM, Micro Raman, contact angle, surface roughness and micro hardness devices. Afterwards, the samples were subjected to wear and corrosion tests using a pin-on-disc wear device and a corrosion device, respectively. Wear tests were carried out in both dry and liquid environments. In electrochemical corrosion tests, Ringer's solution was used and open circuit potential (OCP) and electrochemical polarization analyzes were performed. According to the results of XRD and Raman analyses, it was determined that TiO2 films were successfully grown on the surface of the samples. Additionally, it was observed that these films were in Rutile and Anatase phases and their peak intensities increased with increasing anodization time. While the thickest films were obtained from Ti45Nb samples, the thinnest films were obtained from Cp-Ti samples. As a result of the increase in surface roughness with anodization, surface wettability increased in all samples. It was seen that electrical resistance of the materials was highly effective on the film thickness, surface roughness and surface structures. Wear coefficients decreased in all samples for both dry and liquid wear conditions due to the increased surface hardness and anodic film thickness and the lowest wear coefficients were obtained from the Ti45Nb sample. Corrosion performance of the samples increased with anodization because TiO2 films acted as protective layers on surface of materials.

Effect of anodizing pretreatment on laser joining stainless steel to CFRTP

Metal-carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) hybrid joints have demonstrated its effectiveness in achieving lightweight design concept in engineering application. However, it is difficult to produce high-reliability joint due to differences in physical as well as chemical properties between metal and CFRTP. In this study, porous oxide film was prepared by anodizing treatments with various anodic oxidation times on steel surface to enhance joint performance of laser-welded steel/CFRTP. The maximum steel/CFRTP joint fracture load of 1960 N was reached, which was three times as much as that obtained with pretreated steel. The results indicated that porous structure was introduced into steel surface by anodization process, which resulted in better wettability of molten CFRTP and higher surface roughness, thus contributing to the enhancement of joint area as well as mechanical interlocking at the interface, further improving joint performance. Meanwhile, more Cr-O-C chemical bonds were produced because Cr-rich oxide film formed after anodizing contributed to interfacial chemical reaction. The chemical bond between oxide film and CFRTP was proved through density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Additionally, with the increase of anodic oxidation time, chemical bond content and surface roughness first enhanced and then reduced, which suggested that the porous structure prepared with 20 min anodizing time could best improve the interfacial mechanical interlocking, and promote the chemical bonding as well as steel/CFRTP joint interfacial bonding.

INFLUENCE OF THE NANOSTRUCTURE OF TANTALUM OXIDE ON THE FLARE CHARACTER OF ITS ELECTROLUMINESCENCEWITH ANODIC-ELECTROLYSIS FORMATION IN CHEMICALLY PURE WATER

Theoretical and experimental studies were carried out to identify the reasons for the flash nature of the combustion of electroluminescence (EL) of tantalum oxide (Ta2O5), formed in chemically pure (distilled) water during high-voltage anodization of 1700 s. Nonlinear growth of the Ta2O5 film during this time was established, and a polychrome effect was discovered for its thicknesses from 150 ± 28 nm to 820 ± 80 nm. At the same time, EL ignition begins at an oxide thickness of 390 ± 74 nm, which corresponds to an anodization time of 78 ± 15 s, and from 968 ± 185 s until the end of this process, bright EL flashes are observed. Their luminosity can reach 2.8·10–3 lm/m2. It is shown that the cause of the outbreaks is explosive processes in dynamically changing Ta2O5 pores ranging in size from tens of nanometers to several micrometers and containing gas-discharge plasma from various products of electro- and plasma-chemical reactions with a temperature of the order of 12000 K, created due to Joule heating by the flowing current. It has been established that the formation of the plasma itself occurs as a result of electrical breakdown in pores, the field strength in which can reach the order of 3·108 V/m or more.

Effect of time and voltage on the morphology of TiO2 films produced by anodization

This study investigates the influence of various anodic oxidation parameters on the photocatalytic activities of the nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO2) films. TiO2 films were prepared by anodic oxidation of titanium substrate using 1 M Na2SO4 / 5 wt. % NH4F electrolyte, and then annealed at 500 °C. Anatase appears in all calcined samples. The anodic oxidation process was performed in two steps at different voltages (5–80 V) and times (15–480 min) to reveal the relationship between the surface morphologies, wettability and photocatalytic properties. The results showed that the voltage and anodization time can play important role in the surface morphology of nanostructured TiO2 films and thus in various properties. While 40 V showed the most efficient photocatalytic degradation among voltage values, 60 min was the most efficient time for photocatalytic degradation efficiency and lowest contact angle. In addition, a pore area fraction of 39.54%, equal diameter of 96.81 nm, and circularity of 66.7% were obtained from image analysis of the 60-min anodized sample. While increasing the voltage and time benefited up to a point in terms of photocatalytic efficiency, changes in morphology had a negative effect after a point. At low voltage and time values, small pore diameters result in low photocatalytic properties. This titania can be readily utilize to meet application expectations in areas such as gas sensors, photocatalysis and photovoltaic cells.

Exploring the Impact of Potential, Ammonium Fluoride Concentration, and Anodization Time on the Structure, Surface Characteristics, and Corrosion Resistance of Nanotubular Titanium Oxide Coatings on Biomedical Alloy Ti-6Al-4V ELI

The current research delves into assessing the impact of applied potential, ammonium fluoride concentration, and anodization duration on the structural, phase compositional, microhardness, and surface roughness attributes of nanotubular titanium oxide coatings on anodized Ti-6Al-4V ELI. A meticulous experimental design was executed to systematically investigate the varied effects of these factors. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) unveiled the presence of well-defined titania nanotubes on the surfaces of the anodized specimens. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis discerned the composition of the nanotubular oxide layer, revealing the presence of both anatase and a mixture of anatase and rutile phases contingent upon the anodization parameters. Notably, surface microhardness, surface roughness, and corrosion resistance manifested noticeable variations in response to alterations in applied voltage, NH4F concentration, and anodization duration within the designated experimental ranges.

Enhanced electro-catalytic activity of TNTs/SnO2-Sb electrode through the effect mechanism of TNTs architecture

The TiO2 nanotubes arrays/SnO2-Sb (TNTs/SnO2-Sb) electrode is successfully fabricated using the solvothermal synthesis technique. Various architectures of TNTs are constructed by varying the anodization voltage and time, aiming to investigate their impact on the structural and electrochemical properties of the SnO2-Sb electrode. The anodization voltage is identified as the primary influencing factor on the morphology and surface hydrophilia of TNTs arrays, which is evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contact angle testing. In contrast, the effect of anodization time is relatively small. SEM, X-ray diffraction (XRD), linear sweep voltammograms (LSV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results indicate that the morphology and crystal size of the catalytic coating, as well as the oxygen evolution potential of the electrode, are influenced by the pore size of TNTs arrays. The influencing mechanism of enhanced electrochemical activity by adjusting the architecture of TNTs arrays is investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and hydroxyl radicals (·OH) generation test. The results reveal a higher concentration of oxygen vacancies on the sample with a compact and smaller particle coating, indicating the presence of more adsorbed oxygen species. Consequently, this enhances the generation capacity of active radicals for organic matter degradation. The electrode featuring TNTs arrays with a length of 950 nm and a pore diameter of 100 nm exhibits the most effective remediation of phenol-containing wastewater, achieving approximately 92% ± 4.6% removal after a duration of 2 h.

Facile one-step nanoporous alumina for modifying the surface optical properties of ITO glass

Structure color is a useful technique with good brightness, variuos color, and friendly environmental properties, compared with the dyes and pigments colors. However, the structure colors are based on the micro- or nano structures, which is still a challenge for fabricating the desired colors. Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) is a common nanomaterial for fabricating the structure colors because of the properties of hardness, stability, and the self-assembly. However, current techniques mostly manufactured the structure color on the aluminum foils or the alloy, which limited these techniques from the glass-based applications. Additionally, current technologies usually require a time-consuming fabrication process lasting several tens of hours. In this study, a facile method is proposed for producing structure colors on transparent ITO glass through AAO coating with a short fabrication time. The vibrant structure colors result from constructive interference of visible light due to the nanoporous AAO film on the ITO glass substrate. Furthermore, a correlation between the anodization time of AAO and color is established, enabling the prediction of anodization time to achieve the desired color without resorting to a trial-and-error approach. A spectrum of colors within the visible light range, spanning wavelengths from 420 to 740 nm, is successfully demonstrated on the ITO glass using this uncomplicated one-step anodization process.