Complex-assisted one-step synthesis of ion-exchangeable titanate nanotubes decorated with CdS nanoparticles

Trititanate nanotubes were prepared from anatase TiO2 in 10 M Na2S solution kept at 130 °C for 2 weeks. On the basis of this reaction, we devised a novel synthesis method which allows the preparation of titanate nanotubes decorated with CdS nanoparticles in one step. The key feature of the suggested method is controlling the rate of CdS formation by introducing Cd2+ ions as a Cd–EDTA complex into the synthesis mixture. The nanotubes obtained are several hundred nm long, tend to aggregate into rod-like structures and are fully covered by CdS nanoparticles with an average diameter of ∼5.3 nm.