title: An aqueous, alkaline route to titanate nanotubes under atmospheric pressure conditions.
abstract: A significant reduction in the temperature for alkaline synthesis of titanate nanotubes is reported. Nanotubular titanates have been synthesized from TiO(2) at 100 °C in a mixture of concentrated, aqueous solutions of KOH and NaOH. After 48 h of refluxing, essentially complete conversion was achieved. For a given temperature, the composition of KOH and NaOH in the binary mixture was chosen to achieve a particular concentration of Ti(IV), which favoured the formation of nanotubes. The morphology, surface area and crystal structure of the titanate nanotubes produced were similar to those produced in a solution of pure NaOH at a higher temperature (≈140 °C).
authors.affiliation: Electrochemical Engineering Laboratory, Energy Technology Research Group, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK.
authors.forename: Dmitry V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Bavykin
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cressey
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Light
authors.forename: Frank C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Walsh