Structure and stability of pristine and Bi and/or Sb decorated titanate nanotubes

90–100 nm long protonated titanate nanotubes were synthesized by hydrothermal method from anatase at 155 °C. The bismuth and antimony affected crystallization of the tubular titanate structures during calcination was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. It was shown that bismuth and antimony have different effects on the transformation; while in the presence of antimony oxide the trititanate–anatase–rutile phase transformation is hindered, the bismuth oxide promotes the crystallization process to rutile.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide