Atomic-scale structure of nanosized titania and titanate: Particles, wires, and tubes

The atomic-scale structure of nanosized "TiO₂-type" materials of different morphologies, including particles, wires, and tubes, has been determined by total X-ray diffraction and atomic pair distribution function analysis. Atoms in dense-filled materials such as nanoparticles and nanowires are found to form a three-dimensional network of TiO₆ octahedra, similar to that occurring in bulk TiO₂. Atoms in hollow materials such as nanotubes are arranged in corrugated layers of TiO₆ octahedra. The study calls attention to the often overlooked fact that a material's morphology and atomic ordering may be strongly correlated at the nanoscale.