Synthesis of titania-pillared hydrogen tetratitanate nanocomposites and control of slit width

Slit-width-controlled H2Ti4O9/TiO2 nanocomposites were fabricated by stirring with (CnH2n+1NH3)(2)Ti4O9 and a titanyl acylate complex at 20 degreesC for 48 h followed by UV light irradiation from a 450 W high-pressure mercury lamp. (CnH2n+1NH3)(2)Ti4O9 was synthesized by an intercalation reaction with H2Ti4O9 and CnH2n+1NH2 in aqueous or heptane solution for 48 h. The remaining CnH2n+1NH2 and acylate after titania incorporation was completely decomposed into CO2, H2O, and NH3 by UV light irradiation. A slit in the obtained nanocomposites was produced, and its width could be controlled by changing the carbon length of CnH2n+1NH2 Furthermore, the slit expansion and the transformation of the layer structure to fiberlike TiO2 were successfully confirmed by scanning electron microscopy photographs for the first time.