TiO2 nanorods with exposed {100} facet and their photocatalytic properties

Abstract： Anatase TiO2 nanorods with exposed {100} facets were prepared by employing simple NaCl assisted hydrothermal technique from hydrogen titanate nanosheet precursor. The structural characteristics and formation mechanism of the anatase TiO2 nanorods was deduced from XRD, SEM and TEM characterizations, which revealed that formation of TiO2 nanorods were derived from a combined effect of phase transition retard from hydrogen tiantate to anatase TiO2 induced by Na ion and selective adsorption of Cl ion on the{100} facets of anatase TiO2 crystals. Photocatalytic performance indicated that the TiO2 nanorods with high-energy {100} facet exposure exhibit much higher activities than that of rhombic nanoparticles with low-energy {101} facet exposure for the degradation of organic contaminants.