Effect of electrolysis conditions on photocatalytic activities of the anodized TiO2 films

Photocatalytic activities of anodized TiO2 films for decomposition of gaseous acetaldehyde were investigated. The anodized TiO2 films were fabricated by galvanostatic anodization in a mixed electrolyte composed of H2SO4, H3PO4, and H2O2. Pre-nitridation treatment effectively enhanced the photocatalytic activity of the anodized TiO2 films. The electrolysis parameters such as anodization time, current density, electrolyte temperature, and electrolyte composition significantly affected the photocatalytic activity of the anodized TiO2 films. The improvement of photocatalytic activity of the anodized films is attributed to increase in surface areas of the anodized specimens.