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 deg. C. These films were subsequently thermally treated in air, at 950 deg. 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