Synthesis of Nanotitania on the Surface of Titanium Metal in Ionic Liquids: Role of Water Additions

The anodic oxidation of a titanium metal electrode in two ionic liquids was studied of amorphous titania nanostructures were obtained. The nanostructures are formed only in the case where a hydrophilic ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) with addition of some water is used as the electrolyte. The role of water is to provide a sort of construction material (source of oxygen) for titania nanostructures. In the hydrophobic ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium), the thickness of the anodic oxide increases and no nanostructures are formed.