Formation of single-crystalline TiO2 nanomaterials with controlled phase composition and morphology and the application in dye-sensitized solar cell

Single-crystalline TiO₂ nanomaterials with controlled phase composition and morphology were synthesized by hydrothermal transformation of H-titanate nanotubes under different pH. Rutile rectangle nanorods with two four-side tapered tips were produced at pH of 0, whereas anatase nanoparticles with mainly of rhombic shape were obtained at pH from 2 to 7 and their average particle size increased with pH. The transformation mechanisms at different pH were discussed. The single-crystalline anatase nanoparticles obtained at pH of 2 had ca. 12 nm in average particle size, and the powder possessed as large as 112 m²/g specific surface areas; the conversion efficiency of the dye-sensitized solar cell based on the nanoparticles was increased by over 40% as compared with that of the cell based on P25.