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Interfacial and bulk processes during oxide growth on titanium in ethylene glycol-based electrolytes

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Abstract

Anodic oxidation has proven to be a promising route for the growth of self-ordering oxide nanotubes on Ti, the best results being obtained in ethylene glycol (EG)-based electrolytes with the addition of fluoride and small amounts of water. In the present paper, emphasis is put on the investigation of barrier film growth and dissolution on Ti in EG electrolytes with the addition of H2O (0.3–2.4 M) and NH4F (0.015–0.17 M) using electrochemical and surface analytical techniques. Steady-state current–potential curves and electrochemical impedance spectra as depending on potential (−0.1/5.0 V vs. AgCl/Ag), water and fluoride content have been registered. In addition, the chemical composition of the surface of the oxides obtained at 0.1 and 1.0 V has been estimated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS analysis revealed the presence of a non-stoichiometric oxide containing mainly Ti4+ and a certain amount of Ti3+, with a certain degree of hydroxylation. Estimates of the total thickness of the oxide from the XPS data using a dual layer model are also presented. A kinetic model of the process is advanced to quantitatively interpret the electrochemical and surface analytical results.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support of the by the National Science Fund, Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, under contract DDVU-02-103 “Nanoporous anodic oxides as new generation of optically active and catalytic materials (NOXOAC, 2010–2013)” is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Kl. Ohridski Boulevard 8, 1756, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Mina Stancheva & Martin Bojinov

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  1. Mina Stancheva
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  2. Martin Bojinov
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Correspondence to Martin Bojinov.

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Stancheva, M., Bojinov, M. Interfacial and bulk processes during oxide growth on titanium in ethylene glycol-based electrolytes. J Solid State Electrochem 17, 1271–1283 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-012-1990-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-012-1990-2

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