TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - The solvent comprises at least in part of at least one hydroxide, which is selected from NaOH, KOH, LiOH, RbOH, Ca(OH)2 and NH4OH, to produce a nanowire composition containing the alkali ion of the hydroxide used. The solvent molarity is 0.5-18 M. The treatment step includes immersion of the titanate nanowires in an acid solution, where the acid solution is of the molarity 0.01-5 M. The resulting nanowire array is immersed in the acid solution for duration of 10 minutes to about 24 hours. The treatment step includes annealing of the titanate nanowires. The annealing step is completed in the presence of gas. The gas utilized in the annealing step is comprised at least in part of oxygen. The crystalline anatase nanowires are grown upon one or both sides of the substrate, where the substrate is flat. The substrate is flexible. The substrate is comprised of or coated with graphene or other material comprising at least in part of carbon. The substrate is coated on at least one side with a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer. The TCO layer comprises at least one oxide, which is selected from tin oxide (SnO2), indium-doped tin oxide (ITO), and fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO). The substrate is modified for chemical and/or physical resistance. At least one of the deposition, conversion and/or treatment steps includes the introduction of at least one dopant that shifts the bandgap energy of the final anatase nanowire array; or includes the introduction of at least one dye to sensitize the final anatase nanowire array for absorption of radiation. The dopant or dopants are selected from Ag, Al, As, Au, Bi, C, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ga, Ge, In, Ir, N, Ni, Pb, Pd, Pt, Rh, Sb, Si, Sn, Ta, Tl, W, and Zn. At least one of the deposition, conversion and/or treatment steps includes the intercalation of at least one p-type semiconductor within the nanowire arrays, where the nanowire arrays are n-type semiconducting anatase. The p-type semiconductor is inorganic and/or an organic material, such as a polymer.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - The substrate comprises at least one type of glass, metal, ceramic, fiber, and/or polymer. The substrate is coated on at least one side with a protective layer, which protective layer may be comprised of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) dissolved in acetone, photoresist, a layer of sputtered metal or metals, a sacrificial layer of spin-on glass, or other like protective layer.