Hydrothermal Synthesis and Phase Formation Mechanism of TiO₂(B) Nanorods via Alkali Metal Titanate Phase Transformation

Abstract:

Titanium dioxide (B phase) with 1-D structures was successfully fabricated via a hydrothermal method with a subsequent ion-exchange process and calcination. P25, titanium isopropoxide (TTIP), rutile and also anatase were used as Ti precursors in the alkali hydrothermal system. TTIP promoted an elongation of nanorod morphology whereas the other precursors produced short nanorod structures. The different types of titanium precursors did not have any influence on the phase transformation during the fabrication process. Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ was the primary intermediate product after washing the hydrothermal sample. H₂Ti₃O₇ was the secondary intermediate phase obtained following proton-exchange of Na₂Ti₆O₁₃ in HNO₃ solution. Finally, the TiO₂(B) phase was the product of calcination of the secondary intermediate product at 400°C for 5 hr. A phase transformation mechanism is presented based on an investigation of products at each of the steps. The effects of the synthesis conditions on tailoring of the crystal morphology are discussed. The growth direction of the TiO₂(B) nanorods was investigated by HR-TEM and SADP. Finally, the metastable phase of TiO₂(B) was shown to be transformed to anatase during thermal treatment at temperatures higher than 400°C.

• Periodical: Solid State Phenomena (Volume 283)
• Pages: 23-36
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/SSP.283.23
• Online since: September 2018
• Authors: Yothin Chimupala*, Rik Drummond-Brydson
• Keywords: Hydrothermal Synthesis, One-Dimensional Morphology, Phase Transformation Mechanism, Preferred Growth Direction, SEM, TEM, TiO₂(B)

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