Stability of titania nanotube arrays in aqueous environment and the related factors

Titania nanotube arrays (NTAs) on titanium (Ti) fabricated by electrochemical anodization have attracted tremendous interest for diverse applications, of which most perform in aqueous environment or related to interaction with water. The NTAs are widely studied however the related factor of stability of NTAs when applied in such environment has rarely been concerned. We report that the annealed anatase NTAs are stable but the non-annealed amorphous NTAs are unstable to undergo specific structural change accompanied with a process of amorphous TiO2 dissolution and anatase TiO2 recrystallization. Quite unexpectedly, the non-annealed NTAs still show good stability without structural change in the cell culture media, possibly due to the presence of inorganics that may interfere with the TiO2 dissolution/redeposition process. The pH value of the aqueous environment is not a determinant factor for the structural change for non-annealed NTAs or not, while the temperature and the existence of F(-) can accelerate the structural change process. F(-) may play a very important role in the change process.