Facile synthesis and characterization of TiO2 nanodots and TiO2 nanodots@MWCNTs composite via solvothermal method

Abstract

A facile solvothermal method was developed to prepare TiO2-nanodots and composite of TiO2-nanodots coupled with functionalized carbon nanotubes. The crystal phase, morphology, size and optical properties of as-synthesized product was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, Raman and UV–vis diffuse reflection spectra. The as-obtained TiO2-nanodots have diameter around 5nm, which also could be distributed on the sidewalls of –COOH functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Experiments without solvothermal treatment suggest the probable formation process involving the hydrolysis of tetrabutoxytitanium-derived precursor. It is expected that the present synthetic strategy is effective for the synthesis of TiO2-based nanomaterials and composites with very small anatase particle size, which can pave the way to further improve the performance in energy and environmental applications.