Photocatalytic activity boron-doped TiO2 nanotubes

Boron doped nanostructured titanium dioxide, which is used as a photocatalyst for the process of decomposition of water into oxygen and hydrogen, was prepared. The synthesis was carried out by anodizing titanium in the electrolyte containing boric acid (H3BO3) as the boron source. Undoped nanostructured TiO2 used as the reference sample was obtained in the same organic electrolyte based on ethylene glycol containing ammonium fluoride without additional additives. The obtained samples were investigated using SEM, XRD and photoelectrochemical methods. It was found that the highest photocatalytic characteristics are achieved with an anodizing time of 120 minutes and a boric acid concentration in the electrolyte of 0.1 M.