Calcination-temperature-Dependent shape and crystal structure of TiO2 nanomaterials synthesized by hard-template...

The shape and crystal structure of TiO2 nanomaterials synthesized by the hard-template method can be controlled by simply changing the calcination temperature. In this work, SiO2 nanoparticles were used as a hard template and TiO2 was coated onto the surface of the silica core, resulting in core-shell nanoparticles, which were then calcined at various temperatures to induce shape transformation and crystallization of the TiO2 shell. After etching of the silica cores, spherical hollow nanocapsules with anatase crystal phase were obtained by calcination at 400-1000 degrees C, while urchin-like hollow capsules and small-sized particulates were obtained at temperatures below 400 degrees C and above 1000 degrees C, respectively. The core-shell nanoparticles exhibited greatly enhanced anatase phase stability (up to approximately 1200 degrees C), which was attributable to the effect of the core material. The phase stability was found to be dependent on the shell thickness of the nanocapsules, also supporting the effect of the core material.