Easy Room Temperature Synthesis of High Surface Area Anatase Nanowires with Different Morphologies.

Anatase nanowires were synthesized in solution by using a simple mixing of titanium diisopropoxide bis(acetylacetonate), lactic acid and sodium hydroxide at room temperature. We discuss effects of reaction parameters and post treatment (annealing) on the nanowire morphology, surface area, and crystallinity, as well as the competing morphology directing effects of lactic acid and sodium hydroxide. Then the room temperature nanowires were directly grown onto fluoride doped tin oxide (FTO) glass to form photoanodes.

Easy Room Temperature Synthesis of High Surface Area Anatase Nanowires with Different Morphologies.

Invited for this month's cover picture is the group of Professor Patrik Schmuki. The cover picture shows the classic hydrothermal equipment needed to synthesise TiO nanostructures versus the simple room temperature, 'test tube' approach described in the article on the synthesis of titanium dioxide 'hedgehog' nanowires (SEM picture). Read the full text of their Communication at 10.