Study of surface chemistry and microstructure of TiO2 nanostructures on Pt(111)/Si wafer and FTO glass substrates: a comparative approach

Abstract

We report, the kinetically controlled growth of the (002)-oriented TiO2 nanorods on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass substrate via a cost effective hydrothermal synthesis route of binary oxides. In addition to this, the nanoflowered like growth of TiO2 nanorods using cubic structure Pt(111)/SiO2/Si substrate has also been demonstrated. Tuning of shape, crystallographic structure issues has been discussed by controlling the surface chemistry of the substrate on which the nanostructures were grown. The crystallographic structural aspects of the grown nanorods was confirmed both on ensemble and single nanowire level using spatially resolved tools and techniques. Growth mechanism for different shape, size and crystallographic structure depending on the surface chemistry of the substrate has been proposed. Understanding of growth of oriented TiO2 nanorods and interaction mechanism is quite promising and encouraging for designing optoelectronic and photocatalytic devices to enhanced electron transport and lower exciton recombination rates.