TiO 2-x N x nanotubes and method for preparing the same

• US 8,158,034 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Original Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
• Inventors: Kang, Jeung-Ku, Han, Kyu-Sung, Lee, Jung-Woo, Kang, Yong-Mook
• Primary Examiner(s): KOPEC, MARK T
• Application Number:
  US12/488,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20100044630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 252/520.22, 423/608, 977/734, 427/523
• US Class Current: 252/520.22
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: C01G 23/047 Titanium dioxide
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/54 one element only
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/72 by d-values or two theta-values, e.g. as X-ray diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/84 by UV- or VIS- data
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/85 by XPS, EDX or EDAX data
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/03 obtained by SEM
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/13 Nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/16 Oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/602 Nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 31/06 by contacting with diffusion material in the gaseous state

Abstract

TiO_2-xN_x (0.01≦x≦0.2) nanotubes and a method for preparing the same are disclosed. More particularly, TiO_2-xN_x (0.01≦x≦0.2) nanotubes doped with nitrogen atoms by treating TiO₂ nanotubes through nitrogen plasma to partially substitute oxygen portion of TiO₂ nanotube with nitrogen, and a method for preparing the same are disclosed. The TiO_2-xN_x (0.01≦x≦0.2) nanotube of the present invention is prepared by doping nitrogen on a TiO₂ nanotube to control an electronic structure and reduce a band gap of the TiO₂ nanotube, so that the prepared TiO_2-xN_x (0.01≦x≦0.2) nanotube exhibits improved conductivity and extended light absorption range from a UV ray area up to a visible light area, thus having more enhanced applicable performance in optical and/or electrochemical aspects.

Claims

1. A TiO_2-xN_x (0.01≦

x≦

0.2) nanotube doped with nitrogen by doping a TiO₂ nanotube through nitrogen plasma treatment in order to improve optical and/or electrochemical performance thereof,

wherein the nitrogen plasma treatment substitutes oxygen of the TiO₂ nanotube with nitrogen so that nitrogen is present in atomic state in a TiO₂ matrix to form a TiO_2-x N_x structure.

2. A method for preparing a TiO_2-xN_x (0.01≦

x≦

0.2) nanotube of claim 1 comprising doping of a TiO₂ nanotube through nitrogen plasma treatment.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the doping through nitrogen plasma treatment is performed at a flow rate ranging from 10 to 200 standard cubic centimeter per minute.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the doping through nitrogen plasma treatment is performed at a plasma power ranging from 400 to 800 W and at a temperature of 50 to 400°

C.