Enhancing CaP biomimetic growth on TiO2 cuboids nanoparticles via highly reactive facets.

Pure decahedral anatase TiO(2) particles with high content of reactive {001} facets were obtained from titanium(IV) tetrachloride (TiCl(4)) using a microemulsions droplet system at specific conditions as chemical microreactor. The product was systematically characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning and transmission electron microscopy (FE-SEM, TEM), N(2) adsorption-desorption isotherms, FT-IR and UV-vis spectroscopy, and photoluminescence studies. The obtained cuboids around 90 nm in size have a uniform and dense surface morphology with a BET specific surface area of 11.

Mimicking natural fibrous structures of opals by means of a microemulsion-mediated hydrothermal method.

Silica-based nanomaterials are of great interest because of their potential applications in constructing electronic and optoelectronic nanodevices. Especially significant are those that combine the properties of photonic crystal with a fibrous semiconductor structure. Here we report the use of microemulsion droplet systems as a simple and controllable route for the synthesis of 3D opals materials with an unusual fibrous microstructure similar to those that exist in nature.