A facile approach to synthesize single-crystalline rutile TiO2 one-dimensional nanostructures

TiO2 one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures such as nanowires and nanoribbons were synthesized by direct heating of Ni-coated TiO powders in argon at 850–920 °C and ~760 Torr in a tube furnace. The nanostructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The 1D nanostructures were found to be single-crystalline rutile TiO2. The preferred growth direction is along the [110] direction. The nanowires are roughly ~10–50 nm in diameter, and 5–20 µm in length. The nanoribbons are 0.4–2 µm in width and 5–20 µm in length. The growth of nanostructures under different conditions of substrate, catalytic material, reaction gas environment and chemical composition of solid TixOy precursor was studied. The possible growth mechanisms are discussed.