Electrical and photocatalytic properties of Na2Ti6O13 nanobelts prepared by molten salt synthesis

Single-crystalline Na2Ti6O13 nanobelts were prepared on large-scale by molten salt synthesis at 825 degrees C for 3 h. The obtained nanobelts have typical width of less than 200 nm and thickness of 10-30 nm, and length up to 10 mm. The growth direction of the nanobelts was determined to be along [ 0 1 0]. Electrical transport property of an individual nanobelt was measured at room temperature and ambient atmosphere, and results showed that the nanobelts are semiconductor. Na2Ti6O13 nanobelts exhibited good photocatalytic efficiency for the degradation of RhB under UV irradiation. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.