Porous barium strontium titanate−titania (BST−TiO2) nanocomposite was developed by
the combination of electrochemical anodization and hydrothermal synthesis. Self organized titania
nanotube arrays were first fabricated by electrochemical anodization of titanium foil in 0.2 wt.% HF.
The as-anodized titania was then used as a template and was subject to a hydrothermal treatment in
the solution mixture of barium hydroxide and strontium hydroxide with different molar ratios. Well
crystallized barium strontium titanate was developed directly from the titania nanotubes. Annealing
was carried out to transform residual amorphous titania to crystallized anatase, resulting in the porous
BST−TiO2 nanocomposite. The surface morphology and structure of the nanocomposite were
characterized. The photoelectrochemical response of the BST−TiO2 composite was investigated and
the photocatalytic property was evaluated through the photo-decomposition of an organic dye
solution. The effect of hydrothermal parameters on the surface morphology and the photocatalytic
activity of the nanocomposite was studied.
