A facile approach to synthesize single-crystalline rutileTiO2 one-dimensional nanostructures

Abstract

TiO2 one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures such as nanowires and nanoribbonswere synthesized by direct heating of Ni-coated TiO powders in argon at850–920 °C and ∼760 Torr in a tube furnace. The nanostructures were characterized by scanning electronmicroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy andRaman spectroscopy. The 1D nanostructures were found to be single-crystalline rutileTiO2. The preferred growth direction is along the [110] direction. The nanowires are roughly∼10–50 nm in diameter,and 5–20 µm in length. Thenanoribbons are 0.4–2 µm in width and 5–20 µm in length. The growth of nanostructures under different conditions of substrate,catalytic material, reaction gas environment and chemical composition of solidTixOy precursor was studied. The possible growth mechanisms are discussed.