title: Ultrafast room-temperature crystallization of TiO2 nanotubes exploiting water-vapor treatment.
abstract: In this manuscript a near-room temperature crystallization process of anodic nanotubes from amorphous TiO2 to anatase phase with a fast 30 minutes treatment is reported for the first time. This method involves the exposure of as-grown TiO2 nanotubes to water vapor flow in ambient atmosphere. The water vapor-crystallized samples are deeply investigated in order to gain a whole understanding of their structural, physical and chemical properties. The photocatalytic activity of the converted material is tested by dye degradation experiment and the obtained performance confirms the highly promising properties of this low-temperature processed material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamberti
authors.affiliation: Center for Space Human Robotics @Polito, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Trento, 21, 10129 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiodoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shahzad
authors.affiliation: Center for Space Human Robotics @Polito, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Trento, 21, 10129 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.affiliation: Center for Space Human Robotics @Polito, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Trento, 21, 10129 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quaglio
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, C.so Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy [2] Center for Space Human Robotics @Polito, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Trento, 21, 10129 Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Candido F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Pirri