Titanium dioxide nanoswords with highly reactive, photocatalytic facets

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is one of the most widely studied and important materials for catalysis, photovoltaics, and surface science applications, but the ability to consistently control the relative exposure of higher surface energy facets during synthesis remains challenging. Here, we present the repeatable synthesis of highly reactive, rutile {001} or {101} facets on broad, sword-shaped TiO2 nanostructures rapidly synthesized in minutes. Growth occurs along planes of lower surface energy, repeatedly yielding nanostructures with large, high energy facets. The quantitative photocatalytic reactivity of the nanoswords, demonstrated by the photoreduction of silver, is over an order of magnitude higher than reference low energy TiO2{110} substrates. Therefore, the higher surface energy dominated TiO2 nanoswords are ideal structures for characterizing the physicochemical properties of rutile TiO2, and may be used to enhance a variety of catalytic, optical, and clean-technology applications.