Effect of pre-nitridation treatment on the formation of anatase TiO2 films by anodization

High performance-anatase TiO2 films were successfully formed on metallic titanium by anodization in an acidic electrolyte composed of H2SO4, H3PO4 and H2O2 subsequent to pre-nitridation treatment. The pre-nitridation treatment was carried out by pre-annealing metallic titanium under a nitrogen atmosphere of 0.1 MPa. The anodized films showed photocatalytic activity in photooxidization of the iodide anion into the tri-iodide anion. The nitridation treatment had a significant effect not only on the formation of anatase TiO2 films but also on the photocatalytic activity of the anodized films.