Synthesis and nanostructural investigation of TiO2 nanorods doped by SiO2

Abstract

TiO2 Nano rods can be used as dye-sensitized solar cells, various sensors and photocatalysts. These nanorods are synthesized by a hydrothermal corrosion process in NaOH solution at 200°C using TiO2 powder as the source material. In the present work, the synthesis of TiO2 nanorods in anatase, rutile and Ti7O13 phases and synthesis of TiO2 nanorods by incorporating SiO2 dopant, using the sol–gel method and alkaline corrosion are reported. The morphologies and crystal structures of the TiO2 nanorods are characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) study. The obtained results show not only an aggregation structure at high calcination temperatures with spherical particles but also Ti–O–Si bonds having four-fold coordination with oxygen in SiO4 − .