Anatase: important industrial white pigment and date-marker for artwork.

Barium sulfate, BaSO4, is shown by Raman microscopy to be readily identifiable in early (1920s) industrially produced anatase (TiO2) and thus, if present, may act as a date marker for early industrial anatase. Later processes (except that for producing Titanox B) did not involve usage of barium sulfate. The matter is relevant to the possible dating of certain artwork.

High-throughput continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis of Zn-Ce oxides: unprecedented solubility of Zn in the nanoparticle fluorite lattice.

High-throughput continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis has been used as a rapid and efficient synthetic route to produce a range of crystalline nanopowders in the Ce-Zn oxide binary system. High-resolution powder X-ray diffraction data were obtained for both as-prepared and heat-treated (850 degrees C for 10 h in air) samples using the new robotic beamline I11, located at Diamond Light Source. The influence of the sample composition on the crystal structure and on the optical and physical properties was studied.

Continuous hydrothermal synthesis of extensive 2D sodium titanate (Na2Ti3O7) nano-sheets.

A novel and rapid and continuous hydrothermal route to the synthesis of extensive ultra-thin 2D sodium titanate (Na(2)Ti(3)O(7)) nano-sheets using a superheated water flow at 450 degrees C and 24.1 MPa as a crystallizing medium is described. High resolution electron microscopy of the sheets revealed that they were a few layers thick and largely uncurled, highly crystalline despite their very short time under hydrothermal flow conditions.