Sharma, ShuchiShuchiSharmaTorabnia, ShamsShamsTorabniaHarikrishna, R. B.R. B.HarikrishnaSeshagiri Rao, H.H.Seshagiri RaoGopinathan, Anju V.Anju V.GopinathanHsu, KengKengHsuRanga Rao, G.G.Ranga RaoKannan, A. M.A. M.Kannan2025-08-312025-08-312025-06-3010.1016/j.apsusc.2025.1629002-s2.0-86000609243https://d8.irins.org/handle/IITG2025/28090This research demonstrates unique approach for fabricating patterned titanium (Ti) substrates through micro-milling and using them to grow dual-topographic TiO<inf>2</inf> Micro-Nanofibers by anodization. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy studies revealed that the TiO<inf>2</inf> lattice on micro-milled substrate exhibited evident lattice expansion compared to TiO<inf>2</inf> grown on the un-patterned Ti substrate. Photoemission studies reveal the oxygen vacancies, and Ti³⁺ states as key factors contributing to this expansion. The resulting Micro-Nanofibrous structures have higher surface area, oxygen vacancies, and enhanced light-harvesting capabilities, which are responsible for higher photocurrent and durability than TiO<inf>2</inf> nanofibers grown on un-patterned Ti substrate. Under 1 sun illumination at 1.23 V<inf>RHE</inf> in 1 M KOH, these structures produced approximately 28 % higher photocurrent than their un-patterned counterparts. The micro-milling technique provides a cost-effective, rapid prototyping solution for generating stable nanostructures with microscale features offering advantages over traditional 3D printing and laser ablation techniques. This method shows great potential for photoelectrochemical water splitting.falseMicro-nano | Micromachine | Nanofibers | Photoanodes | Photoelectrochemical water splitting | TiO2Article30 June 20253162900arJournal1