Shape control of highly crystallized titania nanorods based on formation mechanism

A strategic scheme for controlling the shape of titania nanorods while maintaining their highly crystallized state was investigated in terms of the effects of reactant concentration and temperature change on the formation mechanism. Lowering the temperature from 433 to 413 K markedly slowed down the reaction rate and resulted in the coexistence of amorphous-like films and crystalline titania nanorods due to the concurrence of nucleation out of the amorphous phase and particle growth by crystallization. Based on these findings, a strategy for shape control was proposed and long, high aspect ratio titania nanorods in a highly crystallized state were successfully synthesized.