Snapshots of the Formation of NaTi3O6(OH)·2H2O Nanowires: A Time‐Resolved XRD/HRTEM Study1. Issue 14 (22nd October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Koll, Dominik; Andrusenko, Iryna; Mugnaioli, Enrico; Birkel, Alexander; Panthöfer, Martin; Kolb, Ute; Tremel, Wolfgang
• Is Part Of: Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie. Volume 639:Issue 14(2013)
• Page Start: 2521
• Page End: 2526
• Publication Date: 2013-10-22
• Subjects: Chemistry, Inorganic -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/zaac.201300411
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-2313

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Layered titanates are important intermediates during the formation of TiO₂‐related nanostructures in hot concentrated base solution. Microwave‐assisted hydrothermal techniques allow a time‐resolved <italic>ex‐situ</italic> analysis of the reaction in one‐minute intervals by rapid heating and quenching followed by separation and structure analysis of the intermediates. By a combination of powder X‐ray diffraction, high resolution electron microscopy (HRTEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) the individual stages of the reaction could be identified. Sodium titanate nanosheets are formed within several minutes by digesting the crystalline TiO₂‐P25 precursor in NaOH. These nanosheets with a low sodium content form flake‐like aggregates. Subsequently, these nanosheet intermediates form nanoscrolls and/or nanotubes, which transform in the next step to NaTi₃O₆(OH)<bold>·</bold>2H₂O nanowires by reaction with NaOH via an oriented attachment of nanotubes from solution. The NaTi₃O₆(OH)<bold>·</bold>2H₂O nanowires grow at the expense of the nanotubes and form an ordered structure via dissolution‐recrystallization equilibria between solid NaTi₃O₆(OH)<bold>·</bold>2H₂O and soluble titanate species.</p> </abstract>