Preparation and Characterization of Brookite (TiO2) Nanocrystals Synthesized by Oleate-Modified Hydrothermal-Growth Method

Abstract

Single-phase nanoparticles of brookite, a less common polymorph of TiO2 than rutile and anatase, have been successfully synthesized using a water-soluble titanium–glycolate complex as the precursor and an oleate-modified hydrothermal growth method as process. The morphology of the synthesized particles was a pseudo-cube surrounded mainly with four {210} and two {001} faces, accompanying truncation with small {111} facets. It is considered that the preferential absorption of oleate molecules on {210} and {001} resulted in such a pseudo-cube crystal shape. The obtained particles exhibited amphipathic properties possible to disperse not only in water but in nonpolar organic solvents.