Facile synthesis of titanate nanoflowers by a hydrothermal route

The novel sodium titanate nanoflowers were synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method. The as-grown nanoflowers were self-assembled by folded broad and thin nanosheets, which were formed by the assistance of ZnO nanostructure templates. The crystal structure was identified to be layered NaxH2-xTi2O5 center dot H2O, and the formation process of the titanate nanoflowers was proposed as follows: ZnO flower-like nanorods in the alkali solution formed at the initial stage, and then the formed titanate nanosheets deposited on the surface of the frameworks of the ZnO nanorods, and finally the titanate nanoflowers were formed after the removal of ZnO framework.