Title: Electrochemical Synthesis of TiO2 Photocatalyst with Anodic Porous Alumina
Abstract: Aluminum was anodized in a <TEX>$H_2SO_4$</TEX> solution, and titanium (IV) oxide (<TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX>) was electrodeposited into nanopores of anodic porous alumina in a mixed solution of <TEX>$TiOSO_4$</TEX> and <TEX>$(COOH)_2$</TEX>. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared film was analyzed for photodegradation of methylene blue aqueous solution. Consequently, we found it was possible to electrodeposit <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX> onto anodic porous alumina, and synthesized it into the nanopores by hydrolysis of a titanium complex ion under AC 8-9 V when film thickness was about <TEX>$15-20{\mu}m$</TEX>. The photocatalytic activity of <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX>-loaded anodic porous alumina (<TEX>$TiO_2/Al_2O_3$</TEX>) at an impressed voltage of 9 V was the highest in every condition, being about 12 times as high as sol-gel <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX> on anodic porous alumina. The results revealed that anodic porous alumina is effective as a substrate for photocatalytic film and that high-activity <TEX>$TiO_2$</TEX> film can be prepared at low cost.