Synthesis of One-Dimensional and Porous TiO₂ Nanostructures by Controlled Hydrolysis of Titanium Alkoxide via Coupling with an Esterification Reaction

1-Dimensional (1-D) TiO 2 nanostructures were prepared by a novel one-pot method, in which the water release was controlled by an esterification reaction between acetic acid and 2-propanol, and the alkoxide was partially coordinated with carboxylic acid, thus the hydrolysis step was significantly slowed. The successive unidirectional growth of TiO 2 nanostructures was realized by using aniline, octylamine, and isobutylamine, respectively, as structure-directing agents. After calcination below 400 °C, 1-D and porous nanostructures of TiO 2 anatase were obtained. Preliminary results showed that Au supported on these TiO 2 nanofibers, compared with catalyst using commercial TiO 2 as support, has much higher catalytic activity for CO oxidation at near ambient temperature.