Highly regular anatase nanotubule arrays fabricated in porous anodic templates

Compact, continuous and uniform anatase nanotubules with diameters in the r ange 50-70 nm were produced inside PAO nano-templates by pressure impregnat ing the PAO pores with titanium isopropoxide then oxidatively decomposing t he reagent at 500 degreesC, Cleaning the surface of the template and repeat ing the process several times produced titania nanotubules with a wall thic kness similar to 3 nm per impregnation. The tube exteriors appeared to be f aithful replicas of the pores in which they were formed. The crystallinity and form (anatase) of the titania were determined using XRD and Raman spect roscopy. Tubules in this low diameter range could not be produced using sol -gel. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.