Shape-controlled synthesis of nanocrystalline titania at low temperature

The interesting shape (shuttle-like, sphere with needles, uniform particles) rutile titania were prepared by the hydrolysis of TiCl₄ in high acidic aqueous solution in the absence or presence of PEG-1000. PEG-1000 acted as dispersant, which could control the shape and size of the precipitate of titania. As a result, shuttle-like nanocrystalline appeared and the aggregation was improved with the increase of the amount of acid and the decrease of the concentration of TiCl₄ in the absence of PEG-1000. Uniform nanoparticles were obtained in the presence of PEG-1000 and the diameter of the particles decreased with increasing the amount of PEG-1000. This process simplification will lower production cost and make continuous process possible. The products were analyzed using X-ray diffractometer, transmission electron microscopy.