Study on the surface erosion route to the fabrication of TiO2 hollow spheres

Anatase-type TiO2 hollow spheres with a diameter of ∼1 μm and shell thickness of ∼150 nm are successfully fabricated via the surface erosion route. Study shows the repeated dissolution-crystallization process governing the formation process of TiO2 hollow spheres, i.e., the dissolution of titanium powder and crystallization of TiO2 on the surface of titanium, then the dissolution of surface TiO2 and the recrystallization and assembly of TiO2 nanoparticles on the gas-liquid interface of the gas bubble template finally makes the formation of TiO2 hollow spheres with the depletion of titanium.