Synthesis of Titanate Nanotube from Different Phases of TiO2 Powders and Its Hydrogen Absorption Capacity

Titanate nanotubes were synthesized by hydrothermal method with different NaOH concentration using various TiO2 powders (P-25, rutile, anatase, and Ni doped TiO2) at 120 degrees C for 24 hrs. At 10 M NaOH, Ni doped TiO2 powders formed the titanate nanotubes which consisted of layered structure such as A2Ti2O5.H2O, A2Ti3O7, H2TiO.H2O (A = Na and/or H) with outer and inner diameter of approximately 10 nm and 6 nm. Ni doped nanotubes absorbed a small amount of hydrogen at 6 and 10 atm, however, uptake of hydrogen was 1.2 wt% at 20 atm.