One-pot synthesis of high aspect ratio titanium dioxide nanorods using oxalic acid as a complexing agent

Abstract

We report the novel one-pot synthesis of high aspect ratio titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorods using a simple hydrothermal technique. Specifically, oxalic acid and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were used as additives to promote the conversion of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) into a one-dimensional TiO2 morphology. All resultant products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Influential factors on the growth mechanisms of TiO2 nanorods are discussed. This approach contrasts the typical approach of using spherical TiO2 as a starting material in the fabrication of one-dimensional TiO2 structures, and instead allows for the direct synthesis of TiO2 nanorods from TTIP precursors.