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The microwave (MW)-assisted formation of ZnO micro-javelins from zinc nitrate and urea in aqueous solution is described. The particles (named as ‘micro-javelins’ because of their high aspect ratio and needle-like tips) grow hexagonally with well-defined facets in the 〈0110〉 direction and pointed tips in (0001) direction. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns show the appearance of a strikingly dominant (1000) orientation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations reveal the morphological evolution of these hexagonal ZnO particles with time. The effect of precursor concentrations, counterion type and MW irradiation power and their consequent influence on pH and Zn2+ion concentration are investigated. A mechanism for the formation of the micro-javelins is postulated. The microwave induced supersaturation of Zn(OH)+species under the weakly basic pH condition and the initial growth through the (0001) direction (oxygen-rich face) are proposed to be the key factors that dictate the formation of these ZnO micro-javelins. The present one-step microwave process is a straightforward and a reproducible method for the bulk synthesis of defect-free ZnO micro-javelins, which would find potential applications in microelectronic devices (e.g.lasers, cantilevers in surface probing equipment, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for the preparation of anatase TiO2, which is stable to a temperature as high as 900 °C, without using any complex cationic dopants is presented. The synthetic procedure involves the reaction of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) followed by hydrolysis and sol−gel conversion to the xerogel and further calcination. The retention of the anatase phase to high temperatures can be attributed to the presence of small amounts of fluorine in the lattice, which is gradually removed between 500 and 900 °C as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis. Samples prepared with a 1:16 TTIP/TFA composition calcined at 900 °C showed significantly higher photocatalytic activity compared to the controlsample, standard commercial photocatalyst Degussa P25, and samples prepared using acetic acid and oxalic acid. The high-temperature anatase phase stability, determined by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, coupled with its high crystallinity, microporosity, and minimal oxygen vacancy contributes to improved photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]