title: An organometallic synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles.
abstract: We report the synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles that uses the low-temperature reaction of low-valent organometallic precursors. Bis(cyclooctatetraene)titanium reacts with dimethyl sulfoxide in organic solution at temperatures as low as room temperature to produce TiO2. In the absence of any supporting ligand, the reaction gives precipitation of amorphous TiO2 powder; however, in the presence of basic ligands such as tributylphosphine, tributylphosphine oxide and trioctylphosphine oxide, the precipitation is arrested, and chemically distinct, isolated, internally crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles are formed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, and Materials Research Science & Engineering Center, Columbia University, New York, New York 10027, USA.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Redl
authors.forename: Yimei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Siegrist
authors.forename: Louis E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Brus
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Steigerwald
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D011208:Powders; D014025:Titanium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011208:Powders; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium