Understanding for controls of particle shape of various titanates with layered structure.

In this study, various sized and shaped titanates were prepared using rutile phase TiO2 nano-powders in strong basic solution of NaOH having various metallic ions as chlorides by hydrothermal process. Obtained powders were fully characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, and BET. The XRD results show that all obtained powders have layered structure. However, the shapes of particles doped with Zr4+ and Li+ show nano-belt and nano-plate, respectively, compared to those with nano-tubes of undoped, Ni2+ and Fe3+ doped. These results suggest that particle shape of titanates can be controlled only by small amount of doping elements in NaOH aqueous solutions.