Sequence of Events for the Formation of Titanate Nanotubes, Nanofibers, Nanowires, and Nanobelts

Abstract

The formation of H2Ti3O7 nanotubes, nanofibers, nanowires, and nanobelts via alkali hydrothermal synthesis was studied in detail by TEM and HRTEM. The effects of preparation parameters, such as reaction temperature, duration, and cooling process, on the morphologies of the products are clarified. A universal formation mechanism is proposed based on the growth, split, wrapping, and thickening of Na2Ti3O7 nanointermediates, which links all kinds of morphologies observed for H2Ti3O7 nanoentities.