The effects of nanostructures on the mechanical and tribological properties of TiO2 nanotubes

TiO2 nanotubes were prepared by anodization on Ti substrates with a diameter variation of 30–100 nm, and the structure of the nanotubes were studied using x-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, which confirmed the structure changes from the anatase phase to the rutile phase of TiO2 at a diameter below 50 nm. The tribological behaviors of TiO2 nanotubes were investigated with different diameters. The effectiveness of the rutile phase and the diameter size enhanced the frictional performance of TiO2 nanotubes.