Highly active rutile TiO2 nanocrystalline photocatalysts.

The controllable synthesis of rutile TiO2 single crystal particles with preferential orientation of {111} facets still remain a scientific and technological challenge. Here, we developed a facile route to fabrication of rutile TiO2 nanorod crystals (RTiO2NRs) having high ratios of oxidative {111} to reductive {110} surfaces. RTiO2NRs were synthesized using a peroxo-titanium complex (PTC) approach, which was controlled by changing the Ti/H2O2 ratio. The thus obtained RTiO2NRs revealed a high tendency to agglomerate through orientation-dependent attachment along the {110} facets. This resulted in an increased {111}/{110} surface ratio and lead to a markedly improved photocatalytic activity of RTiO2NRs aggregates. The reported findings illustrate the rich potential of the herein proposed facile and energy-efficient synthesis of nanostructured rutile TiO2-based photocatalysts.