Facile synthesis and characterization of TiO2 nanodots and TiO2 nanodots@MWCNTs composite via solvothermal method

•A solvothermal method was used to prepare TiO2 nanocrystals with a diameter ≈5 nm.•TiO2 nanodots could be distributed on the sidewalls of –COOH functionalized MWCNTs.•The possible mechanism of TiO2-nanodots and TiO2@MWCNTs composites is proposed.•Optical properties of TiO2-nanodots and TiO2@MWCNTs composites are studied.

A facile solvothermal method was developed to prepare TiO2-nanodots and composite of TiO2-nanodots coupled with functionalized carbon nanotubes. The crystal phase, morphology, size and optical properties of as-synthesized product was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, Raman and UV–vis diffuse reflection spectra. The as-obtained TiO2-nanodots have diameter around 5 nm, which also could be distributed on the sidewalls of –COOH functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Experiments without solvothermal treatment suggest the probable formation process involving the hydrolysis of tetrabutoxytitanium-derived precursor. It is expected that the present synthetic strategy is effective for the synthesis of TiO2-based nanomaterials and composites with very small anatase particle size, which can pave the way to further improve the performance in energy and environmental applications.

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