Photocatalytic activity of titania nanowire arrays by sol-template method

The template method combined with sol-dipping deposition or sol-electrophoresis was used to prepare titania (TiO2) nanowires with shape of rod or string of beads. When irradiated under ultraviolet (UV) light for 1 hour, the degradation rate of methyl orange (MO) using nanowire arrays reached 98.5% which was 1.84 times as much as that of the thin film on glass plate, and when irradiated under visible light for 6 hours, the degradation rate reached 96.7% which was 4.17 times as much as that of the thin film.