Synthesis and structural characterization of novel flower-like titanium dioxide nanostructures

Titanium dioxide (TiO2-anatase phase) films, consisting of agglomerated flower-like nanoparticles, have been synthesized using an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis method in conjunction with titanium (IV) oxide acetylacetonate (TiO(acac)2) and methanol at 550 °C. These films were subsequently thermally treated in air, at 950 °C for 6 h, and the flower-like particles were transformed into smooth surfaces mainly formed by the TiO2 rutile phase. In this letter, we characterized these structures using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force micrcoscopy, and low-angle X-ray diffraction measurements. It is proposed that these novel flower-like nanostructures, exhibiting a large number of exposed edges, will be important in the development of efficient gas sensor devices.