Synthesis of one-dimensional and porous TiO₂ nanostructures by controlled hydrolysis of titanium alkoxide via coupling with an esterification reaction

1-Dimensional (1-D) TiO₂ nanostructures were prepared by a novel one-pot method, in which the water release was controlled by an esterification reaction between acetic acid and 2-propanol, and the alkoxide was partially coordinated with carboxylic acid, thus the hydrolysis step was significantly slowed. The successive unidirectional growth of TiO₂ nanostructures was realized by using aniline, octylamine, and isobutylamine, respectively, as structure-directing agents. After calcination below 400°C, 1-D and porous nanostructures of TiO₂ anatase were obtained. Preliminary results showed that Au supported on these TiO₂ nanofibers, compared with catalyst using commercial TiO₂ as support, has much higher catalytic activity for CO oxidation at near ambient temperature.