Effects of titania different phases on the microstructure and properties of K2Ti6O13 nanowires

Potassium titanate nanowires have been synthesized by a hydrothermal method using anatase and brookite nanocrystallites, respectively, as precursors. The corresponding products, alpha- and beta-K2Ti6O13 nanowires, have distinct differences in structure and properties. Under the same conditions, the amount of K intercalated into anatase TiO2 is larger than that into brookite TiO2. The multiple types of reserved short Ti–O bonds in beta-K2Ti6O13 confined the growth of nanowires along the [010] orientation and made the beta-K2Ti6O13 nanowires stubby. The UV–vis absorption spectrum of beta-K2Ti6O13 nanowires showed strong and wide absorption in the ultraviolet and visible region. Beta-K2Ti6O13 is thermodynamically more stable than alpha-K2Ti6O13.