Photoelectrochemically active surfactant free single step hydrothermal mediated titanium dioxide nanorods

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanorods have been successfully synthesized by a simple and cost-effective hydrothermal deposition method onto the conducting glass substrates. Effect of reaction temperature on the growth of TiO₂ nanorods have been investigated by varying the reaction temperature from 140 to 200 °C. The optical, structural, compositional, morphological properties of the synthesized films are studied. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal the formation of polycrystalline TiO₂ with the tetragonal crystal structure possessing rutile phase. The chemical composition and valence states of the constituent elements were analysed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images shows the formation of nanorod-like structure with variation in diameter. The optical band gap energy was found to increase from 3.07 to 3.15 eV with the increase in reaction temperature exhibiting a blue shift. The films were photo electrochemically active with the maximum current density of 216 µA/cm² for the sample prepared at 180 °C.