Fabrication of Surface-Modified One-Dimensional Titania Nanostructures in the Presence of Chitosan

Abstract

One-dimensional TiO₂-based nanostructures with modified surface have been produced by alkaline hydrothermal treatment of TiO₂ and CoTiO₃ powders in the presence of bioactive natural polymer—chitosan—as the organic reagent. Nanostructures are characterized by multilayer morphology. However, characteristic interlayer distances are significantly higher than in those produced without chitosan. Moreover, thin bioorganic layers are observed on the surface of elongated structures produced by processing of TiO₂ powder. Quite different surfaces with numerous Co-containing agglomerates of chitosan derivatives are detected when CoTiO₃ powder is processed. After vacuum treatment at 600°C and higher, Co-containing elongated nanostructures demonstrate the abnormal high ferromagnetic properties.

Keywords:

• Biofunctionality
• Chitosan
• Fabrication
• Ferromagnetism
• Modification
• Multilayered
• Nanofiber
• Surface
• Titania