Large-scale synthesis of single-crystalline rutile TiO2 nanorods via a one-step solution route

A convenient hydrothermal method has been developed to synthesize rutile titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorods by employing TiCl3 and ethanol. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations reveal that the rods with average diameter of 35 nm are well dispersed with single-crystalline nature. In addition, part nanorods are attached by some nanoparticles. The band gap E-g of obtained TiO2 is about 3.0 eV by ultraviolet (UV)-vis absorption spectrum. An important role of ethanol played in the formation of rod-like nanocrystals is found and the concentration of HCl could also influence their morphologies. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.