Abstract
Hierarchically micro/nanostructured rutile TiO 2 is prepared by a convenient hydrothermal reaction, and characterized by XRD, SEM, and TEM (HR-TEM). The hierarchical TiO 2 micro/nanostructure is highly branched and consists of a three-dimensional assembly of TiO 2 nanorods. Based on the experimental evidences, a mechanism involving three growth stages is proposed for formation of the hierarchical TiO 2 micro/nanostructure. The first stage is the nucleation and growth of rutile TiO 2 trunk nanorods along [001] direction, the second stage is the nucleation and growth of TiO 2 branch nanorods at the defect sites created by HCl corrosion on the preformed trunk surfaces, and the third stage is the continuous growth of hierarchically nanostructured TiO 2 through Ostwald ripening process where some nanobranches grow larger with time accompanied by sub-branches growth and a number of smaller nanobranches disappear. Results show that the hierarchical TiO 2 micro/nanostructure is a potential photovoltaic material.
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