Tantalum Oxide Nanotube Thin Films: Fabrication, Optical Properties, and Porosity Analysis

Abstract

Tantalum oxide (Ta2O5) nanotubes, exhibiting remarkable properties, have garnered significant attention across diverse scientific disciplines and technological domains. Despite their multifaceted applications, the synthesis of uniformly ordered adherent nanotubes remains a formidable challenge. This research article elucidates the successful synthesis of amorphous, well-ordered Ta2O5 nanotubes through anodic oxidation in electrolytes incorporating hydrofluoric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid. The study comprehensively investigates the synthesis methodology on the morphology of the nanotubes, elucidating their optical properties. Furthermore, the effective refractive index and porosity of the Ta2O5 nanotubes were quantitatively determined, offering valuable insights for the advanced utilization of Ta2O5 in several applications, encompassing battery electrode materials, memory resistors, sensors, and more. Additionally, the findings of this research are poised to serve as an invaluable reference point for the synthesis and characterization of nanotubes based on other metal oxides, facilitating the precise determination of associated parameters. This study significantly expands the potential applications of Ta2O5 nanotubes in environmental monitoring and liquid sensing.

Keywords: Anodic oxidation, Ta2O5 nanotubes, Interference color, Porosity.