Preparation of brookite-type titanium oxide nanocrystal by hydrothermal synthesis

Titanium oxide of the brookite structure was prepared by the hydrothermal treatment of a glycolic acid titanium complex solution. It was found that the crystal phase of the brookite could be obtained by the hydrothermal treatment from this precursor solution adjusted to basic pH condition, on the other hand the phase of rutile type can be obtained under from neutral pH to weakly basic pH condition. So it is considered that the brookite or the rutile phase could be synthesized selectively by adjusting the pH. Identification of the crystalline phase was perfomed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The shape of the particle was observed by a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The shape of prepared brookite was a rod-like and nanometer particle (100×100×400 nm).