Ammonium oxotrifluorotitanate: Morphology control and conversion to anatase TiO 2

Uniform ammonium oxotrifluorotitanate (NH 4TiOF 3) mesocrystals were synthesized from an aqueous solution containing (NH 4) 2TiF 6 and H 3BO 3 in presence of nonionic surfactant. Effects of various reaction conditions on the morphology of the NH 4TiOF 3 mesocrystals were examined by electron microscopy techniques. Results indicate that static solution, high surfactant concentration and low reaction temperature enhance the formation of uniform NH 4TiOF 3 mesocrystals with regular shapes. By sintering in atmosphere, the NH 4TiOF 3 mesocrystals were converted to anatase TiO 2, which retain the original shapes of the NH 4TiOF 3 precursor due to similarities on their atom structures. © 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA.