Synthesis and Characterization of Titanate Nanotubes Via Hydrothermal Process using Temperature Gradient Technique

Titanium nanotubes (TiNTs), as a novel nanomaterial, have received abundant attention due to their remarkable structural and functional properties, including a large surface area, excellent biocompatibility, high photochemical capability, and good electronic performance. The hydrothermal method is the most reliable synthetic process for titanate nanotubes, as the entire set of characteristics can be controlled accurately and, more importantly, the synthesis of well-defined nanostructures.
Herein, the synthesis and characterization of titanate nanotubes prepared via hydrothermal reaction using a temperature gradient was described. The experimental process started with the synthesis of TiNTs by hydrothermal reaction at atmospheric pressure. The final samples were further investigated by advanced analytical techniques, such as FTIR, SEM, TEM, and XRD, and all the analyses confirmed the crystalline phase of TiNTs.
The XRD diffraction pattern of the prepared TiNTs was quite different from that of the parent anatase TiNPs. Sharp peaks could be seen at 2θ angles of 27.600°, 36.160°, 41.450°, 54.460°, 62.850°, and 69.200°, corresponding to the crystallographic planes (110), (101), (111), (211), (020), and (301), respectively. The characterizations proved that the well-ordered crystalline structure product was TiNTs, indicating that the proposed hydrothermal synthesis was feasible.