Synthesis of Fe2O3/TiO2 nanorod-nanotube arrays by filling TiO2 nanotubes with Fe

Synthesis of hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanostructures on a titania (TiO2) nanotubular template is carried out using a pulsed electrodeposition technique. The TiO2 nanotubes are prepared by the sonoelectrochemical anodization method and are filled with iron (Fe) by pulsed electrodeposition. The Fe/TiO2 composite is then annealed in an O2 atmosphere to convert it to Fe2O3/TiO2 nanorod-nanotube arrays. The length of the Fe2O3 inside the TiO2 nanotubes can be tuned from 50 to 550 nm by changing the deposition time. The composite material is characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and diffuse reflectance ultraviolet-visible studies to confirm the formation of one-dimensional Fe2O3/TiO2 nanorod-nanotube arrays. The present approach can be used for designing variable one-dimensional metal oxide heterostructures