The structure and properties of nanoporous anodic oxide films on titanium aluminide

Abstract

  Purpose. The paper presents a structural analysis of nanoporous oxide films formed by anodizing γTiAl (Тi-40 wt. %Al) samples in fluoride containing water and waterless electrolytes.

Methods and methodology. Two groups of samples produced from (1) ingots and (2) sintered powder were used for anodizing. X-ray diffraction, X-ray electron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to analyse the structure of the films. The band gap values of anodized powder samples were estimated based on their UV-vis absorption spectra. The reaction of degradation of methyl orange under UV-vis irradiation was used to examine the photocatalytic activity of anodized TiAl powder.

Results. Anodizing performed under optimal conditions in a 10 % H₂SO₄+0.15 % HF water electrolyte for both groups of samples results in the formation of self-organized nanoporous films of about 350 nm thickness with effective pore diameter <d_p>= (70±10) nm. All the studied oxide films are heterogeneous, consist mostly of TiO₂ : Al₂O₃ in a ratio of approximately 1:1, and have an X-ray amorphous structure. The optical band gap value of anodized powders determined by their UV absorption was E_g~2.5 eV. It is much less than E_g of nanotubular titanium dioxide (E_g~3.4 eV). The study also found that the concentration of methyl orange decreases under visible light irradiation in the presence of anodized TiAl powder.

Conclusion. Photocatalytic activity of the developed heterogeneous films might be initiated by the visible light irradiation (λ~480-510 nm). In other words, the new composite “TiAl powder/TiO₂-Al₂O₃ nanoporous oxide” exhibits activity under the visible light radiation which results in the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange. The obtained results can be successfully used for the production of new powder nanomaterials which show photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare the absence of obvious and potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article.

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