Synthesis of titanate, TiO2 (B), and anatase TiO2 nanofibers from natural rutile sand

Titanate nanofibers were synthesized by hydrothermal method (150 C for 72 h) using natural rutile sand as the starting materials. TiO2 (B) and anatase TiO2 (high crystallinity) nanofibers with the diameters of 20-100 nm and the lengths of 10-100 mu m were obtained by calcined titanate nanofibers for 4 h at 400 and 700 C (in air), respectively. The samples characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, SAED, HRTEM, and BET surface area. This synthesis method provides a simple route to fabricate one-dimensional nanostructured TiO2 from low cost material. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.