Atomic-scale structure of nanosized titania and titanate: Particles, wires, and tubes

The atomic-scale structure of nanosized "TiO2-type" materials of different morphologies, including particles, wires. and tubes, has been determined by total X-ray diffraction and atomic pair distribution function analysis. Atoms in dense-filled materials such as nanoparticles and nanowires are found to form a three-dimensional network of TiO6 octahedra, similar to that occurring in bulk TiO2. Atoms in hollow materials such as nanotubes are arranged in corrugated layers of TiO6 octahedra. The study calls attention to the often overlooked fact that a material's morphology and atomic ordering may be strongly correlated at the nanoscale.