The effect of heat treatment on the surface nanostructure and conductivity of Ti metal electrode prepared by chemical and heat treatments

Abstract

Titanium oxide is useful as an electrode for fuel cell, solar cell, or electrolysis of water, since it can fix the catalyst, dye and enzyme on its surface. In the present study, Ti metal was chemically and thermally treated to form titanium oxide with high specific surface area, high conductivity and ability for catalyst fixation on its surface. A nano network structure was formed by NaOH and HCl treatments and remained even after subsequent heat treatments below 900ºC. The titanium nitride and titanium oxide with oxygen defects were formed by heat treatment in N2 atmosphere. The oxide was mainly formed at the top surface, while titanium nitride was in deeper region. Their conductivities increased with increasing temperature of heat treatment. A redox catalyst such as ferrocene with phosphate end group was able to be fixed on the surface of the Ti metal prepared by chemical and heat treatments.