Facile synthesis and characterization of functionalized, monocrystalline rutile TiO2 nanorods

Functionalized, monocrystalline rutile TiO2 nanorods were prepared from TiCl4 in aqueous solution under acidic conditions in the presence of dopamine, followed by aging and hydrothermal treatment at 150 degrees C. The surface-bound organic ligand controls the morphology as well as the crystallinity and the phase selection of TiO2. The presence of monocrystalline rutile TiO2 was confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction and HRTEM investigations. The as-prepared nanorods are soluble in water at pH <3. The surface functionalization was analyzed by IR and 1H NMR, confirming the presence of dopamine on the surface. The surface amine groups can be tailored further with functional molecules such as dyes. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to characterize the binding of the fluorescent dye 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan (NBD) to the functionalized surface of the TiO2 nanorods.