Abstract
Mesocrystals, which are assemblies of crystallographically oriented nanocrystals, have received increasing attention due to their unique properties such as high crystallinity, high porosity, oriented subunit alignment, and similarity to highly sophisticated biominerals. However, the controlled synthesis of TiO2 mesocrystals has not been realized until recently, probably because of the difficulty in accurately controlling the reaction processes that produce TiO2 crystals. In this review, recent advances in the synthesis and applications of TiO2 mesocrystals are summarized with particular attention paid to the mechanisms of their formation. Three typical pathways for the preparation of TiO2 mesocrystals are discussed, namely topotactic transformation, direct synthesis in solution, and growth on supports. The potential applications of TiO2 mesocrystals in lithium ion batteries, photocatalysis, enzyme immobilization, and antireflection materials are also described.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Talapin DV, Lee J-S, Kovalenko MV, Shevchenko EV. Prospects of colloidal nanocrystals for electronic and optoelectronic applications. Chem Rev, 2010, 110: 389–458
Nie Z, Petukhova A, Kumacheva E. Properties and emerging applications of self-assembled structures made from inorganic nanoparticles. Nat Nanotech, 2010, 5: 15–25
Cölfen H, Antonietti M. Mesocrystals: Inorganic superstructures made by highly parallel crystallization and controlled alignment. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2005, 44: 5576–5591
Zhou L, O’Brien P. Mesocrystals: A new class of solid materials. Small, 2008, 4: 1566–1574
Song R-Q, Cölfen H. Mesocrystals — Ordered nanoparticle superstructures. Adv Mater, 2010, 22: 1301–1330
Fang J, Ding B, Gleiter H. Mesocrystals: Syntheses in metals and applications. Chem Soc Rev, 2011, 40: 5347–5360
Zhou L, O’Brien P. Mesocrystals — Properties and applications. J Phys Chem Lett, 2012, 3: 620–628
Niederberger M, Cölfen H. Oriented attachment and mesocrystals: Non-classical crystallization mechanisms based on nanoparticle assembly. Phys Chem Chem Phys, 2006, 8: 3271–3287
Zhang Q, Liu S-J, Yu S-H. Recent advances in oriented attachment growth and synthesis of functional materials: Concept, evidence, mechanism, and future. J Mater Chem, 2009, 19: 191–207
Chen X, Mao SS. Titanium dioxide nanomaterials: Synthesis, properties, modifications, and applications. Chem Rev, 2007, 107: 2891–2959
Zhou L, Smyth-Boyle D, O’Brien P. Uniform NH4TiOF3 mesocrystals prepared by an ambient temperature self-assembly process and their topotaxial conversion to anatase. Chem Commun, 2007: 144–146
Zhou L, Smyth-Boyle D, O’Brien P. A facile synthesis of uniform NH4TiOF3 mesocrystals and their conversion to TiO2 mesocrystals. J Am Chem Soc, 2008, 130: 1309–1320
Liu YQ, Zhang Y, Tan H, Wang J. Formation and anisotropic dissolution behavior of NH4TiOF3 mesocrystals. Cryst Growth Des, 2011, 11: 2905–2912
Feng J, Yin M, Wang Z, Yan S, Wan L, Li Z, Zou Z. Facile synthesis of anatase TiO2 mesocrystal sheets with dominant {001} facets based on topochemical conversion. CrystEngComm, 2010, 12: 3425–3429
Liu S-J, Gong J-Y, Hu B, Yu S-H. Mesocrystals of rutile TiO2: Mesoscale transformation, crystallization, and growth by a biologic molecules-assisted hydrothermal process. Cryst Growth Des, 2008, 9: 203–209
Zhang D, Li G, Wang F, Yu J C. Green synthesis of a self-assembled rutile mesocrystalline photocatalyst. CrystEngComm, 2010, 12: 1759–1763
Ye J, Liu W, Cai J, Chen S, Zhao X, Zhou H, Qi L. Nanoporous anatase TiO2 mesocrystals: Additive-free synthesis, remarkable crystalline-phase stability, and improved lithium insertion behavior. J Am Chem Soc, 2010, 133: 933–940
Hong Z, Wei M, Lan T, Jiang L, Cao G. Additive-free synthesis of unique TiO2 mesocrystals with enhanced lithium-ion intercalation properties. Energy Environ Sci, 2012, 5: 5408–5413
Hong Z, Wei M, Lan T, Cao G. Self-assembled nanoporous rutile TiO2 mesocrystals with tunable morphologies for high rate lithium-ion batteries. Nano Energy, 2012, 1: 466–471
Li L, Liu C-Y. Organic small molecule-assisted synthesis of high active TiO2 rod-like mesocrystals. CrystEngComm, 2010, 12: 2073–2078
Da Silva RO, Goncalves RH, Stroppa DG, Ramirez AJ, Leite ER. Synthesis of recrystallized anatase TiO2 mesocrystals with Wulff shape assisted by oriented attachment. Nanoscale, 2011, 3: 1910–1916
Wang H, Liu Y, Liu Z, Xu H, Deng Y, Shen H. Hierarchical rutile TiO2 mesocrystals assembled by nanocrystals-oriented attachment mechanism. CrystEngComm, 2012, 14: 2278–2282
Tartaj P. Sub-100 nm TiO2 mesocrystalline assemblies with mesopores: Preparation, characterization, enzyme immobilization and photocatalytic properties. Chem Commun, 2011, 47: 256–258
Tartaj P, Amarilla JM. Multifunctional response of anatase nanostructures based on 25 nm mesocrystal-like porous assemblies. Adv Mater, 2011, 23: 4904–4907
Liu B, Zeng HC. Carbon nanotubes supported mesoporous mesocrystals of anatase TiO2. Chem Mater, 2008, 20: 2711–2718
Cai J, Ye J, Chen S, Zhao X, Zhang D, Chen S, Ma Y, Jin S, Qi L. Self-cleaning, broadband and quasi-omnidirectional antireflective structures based on mesocrystalline rutile TiO2 nanorod arrays. Energy Environ Sci, 2012, 5: 7575–7581
Aoyama Y, Oaki Y, Ise R, Imai H. Mesocrystal nanosheet of rutile TiO2 and its reaction selectivity as a photocatalyst. CrystEngComm, 2012, 14: 1405–1411
Lou XW, Archer LA. A general route to nonspherical anatase TiO2 hollow colloids and magnetic multifunctional particles. Adv Mater, 2008, 20: 1853–1858
Guo YG, Hu YS, Sigle W, Maier J. Superior electrode performance of nanostructured mesoporous TiO2 (anatase) through efficient hierarchical mixed conducting networks. Adv Mater, 2007, 19: 2087–2091
Liao J-Y, Lei B-X, Chen H-Y, Kuang D-B, Su C-Y. Oriented hierarchical single crystalline anatase TiO2 nanowire arrays on Ti-foil substrate for efficient flexible dye-sensitized solar cells. Energy Environ Sci, 2012, 5: 5750–5757
Qi L. Colloidal chemical approaches to inorganic micro- and nanostructures with controlled morphologies and patterns, Coord Chem Rev, 2010, 254: 1054–1071
Huang T, Qi L. Solution-phase synthesis of inorganic nanostructures by chemical transformation from reactive templates. Sci China Chem, 2010, 53: 365–371
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cai, J., Qi, L. TiO2 mesocrystals: Synthesis, formation mechanisms and applications. Sci. China Chem. 55, 2318–2326 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-012-4706-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-012-4706-7