Morphology control of titanium oxides by tetramethylammonium cations in hydrothermal conditions

The effect of tetramethylammonium cations (TMA+) on TiO2 crystal morphology in hydrothermal conditions has been studied. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods. The morphologies including besom-like particle, nanosheet and nanotube have been observed. The different ways TMA+ cations in the hydrothermal bases affect the crystal growth manner are suggested to be responsible for the different morphologies of the as-synthesized samples.