Synthesis of TiO₂ nanowires via thermal oxidation process in air

Abstract

TiO₂ nanowires were synthesised by thermal oxidation of TiO powder in air at atmospheric pressure. No catalysts and substrates were used for the formation of TiO₂ nanowires. These nanowires were fabricated at 1000°C. Nanowires could not be synthesised at temperatures lower than or higher than 1000°C. X-ray diffraction data revealed that the nanowires were of TiO₂ with rutile crystallographic structure. Scanning electron microscopy study revealed that the diameters of the nanowires were in the range of 50–120 nm and the lengths were in the range of 3.2–8.0 μm. A strong violet emission peak at 410 nm was observed in the cathodoluminescence (CL) spectrum taken at room temperature, which is the signature of the high crystalline quality of the TiO₂ nanowires.

Keywords:

• Titanium dioxide
• Nanowire
• Thermal oxidation
• Air
• Violet emission

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by Ministry of Education (2011-0006947).