A two-dimensional crystal growth in anatase titania nanostructures driven by trigonal hydronium ions.

Two-dimensional growth or high-energy faceting during a wet-chemical nanocrystal growth involves a dynamic surfactant functionalization that selectively allows a particular crystal plane to grow and simultaneously, passivates others from evolving. Here, by simply controlling the concentration of hydronium ions in a liquid-phase deposition reaction, the two-dimensional growth of a few atoms thick and (001) facet in anatase titania nanostructures can be achieved. The morphology can be modified from nanocube to nanobelt and nanosheet by increasing the hydronium ion concentration.