page_title: Titanium dioxide
section_title: Nanotubes
hierarchical_section_title: Titanium dioxide / Research / Nanotubes
caption_attribution_description: English: An electron microscope image of electrochemically grown TiO2 nanotubes. 10,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair, the tubes are filled with organic polymer in a new technique for "growing" solar cells with the potential to be cheaper than current solar cells.
context_page_description: Titanium dioxide, also known as titanium(IV) oxide or titania, is the naturally occurring oxide of titanium, chemical formula TiO
  ₂. When used as a pigment, it is called titanium white, Pigment White 6, or CI 77891. Generally, it is sourced from ilmenite, rutile, and anatase. It has a wide range of applications, including paint, sunscreen, and food coloring. When used as a food coloring, it has E number E171. World production in 2014 exceeded 9 million tonnes. It has been estimated that titanium dioxide is used in two-thirds of all pigments, and pigments based on the oxide have been valued at $13.2 billion.
context_section_description: Anatase can be converted into inorganic nanotubes and nanowires. Hollow TiO₂ nanofibers can be also prepared by coating carbon nanofibers by first applying titanium butoxide.
caption: Titanium oxide nanotubes, SEM image
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