Abstract
We report the first soft chemistry synthesis of a new "layered ramsdellite-like" titanate structure, NaTi 2 O 4 (OH) (lattice parameters: primitive monoclinic system, a = 4.09 nm, b = 0.29 nm, c = 0.94 nm, and β = 80°), with high-aspect-ratio, platelike morphology (diameter. 20-200 nm; thickness. 10-40 nm; length. 0.05-5 μm) from TiO 2 rutile. The newly prepared titanate can be transformed back to TiO 2 rutile with uniquely shaped mesoporous elongated nanoplate morphology. The reaction proceeds via the disintegration of rutile in NaOH(aq) into NaTi 2 O 4 (OH). Ion exchange of Na+ in NaTi 2 O 4 (OH) into H+ forms another new layered ramsdellite-like titanate, HTi 2 O 4 (OH). A final topotatic condensation of the titanate layers in HTi 2 O 4 (OH) by heat treatment at relatively low 673 K produces the mesoporous TiO 2 rutile product with highly exposed (110) surfaces. © 2008 American Chemical Society.