Facile synthesis and characterization of TiO₂ nanodots and TiO₂ nanodots@MWCNTs composite via solvothermal method

A facile solvothermal method was developed to prepare TiO ₂-nanodots and composite of TiO₂-nanodots coupled with functionalized carbon nanotubes. The crystal phase, morphology, size and optical properties of as-synthesized product was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, Raman and UV-vis diffuse reflection spectra. The as-obtained TiO₂-nanodots have diameter around 5 nm, which also could be distributed on the sidewalls of -COOH functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Experiments without solvothermal treatment suggest the probable formation process involving the hydrolysis of tetrabutoxytitanium- derived precursor. It is expected that the present synthetic strategy is effective for the synthesis of TiO₂-based nanomaterials and composites with very small anatase particle size, which can pave the way to further improve the performance in energy and environmental applications.