Controllable synthesis of anatase titanium dioxide nanowires with high-temperature stability

Pure anatase TiO 2 can survive at more than 850 °C. Anatase TiO 2 has great potential to be used in self-cleaning ceramics and high-temperature gas sensors. However, these two applications require the crystal structure of anatase TiO 2 to have high-temperature stability. Here, we demonstrate the controllable synthesis of anatase TiO 2 nanowires with excellent high-temperature stability by the hydrothermal method, in which titanium powders and sodium hydroxides act as reactants. The morphology and crystal structure of the anatase TiO 2 nanowires were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that the prepared anatase TiO 2 nanowires are single-crystal nanowires and can maintain its crystal structure at 850 °C. Its high-temperature stability exceeds that of anatase TiO 2 reported in all studies by the hydrothermal method.