Synthesis of titanium oxide nanocups by electrospraying

Abstract

Porous titanium oxide nanocups were synthesized via a 550 degrees C thermal treatment of hemispherical cup-shaped composite particles prepared by electrospraying a nitromethane solution of titanium tetraisopropoxide and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) polymer. During the calcination process, as-electrosprayed cup-like PMMA-TiO2 composites were converted into miniaturized TiO2 nanocups without a significant change in shape, via selective removal of PMMA. The TiO2 nanocups with an outer diameter of around 500 nm were confirmed to form by sintering polycrystalline anatase crystals with an average size of about 20 nm. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.