Fabrication of crack-free anodic nanoporous titania and its enhanced photoelectrochemical response

Crack-free nanoporous titania was fabricated with an appropriate post-anodization treatment. Such a nanoporous structure shows enhanced photoelectrochemical response as compared to the conventional nanotubular titania of similar thickness. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is demonstrated through the photo-degradation of methyl orange and antibacterial-drop test, and is thought to result from the more efficient electron-hole separation in the porous structure. Further improvement in the photocatalytic efficiency can be achieved on thicker titania layers fabricated by extended anodization. This kind of nanostructured titania may find its potential applications in bactericidal process, photocatalytic decomposition of organic contamination, and wastewater purification. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.