Novel phase transformation phenomenon of potassium teteratitanate nanofibres synthesized from H₂TiO₃

Starting from H₂TiO₃, potassium teteratitanate (K₂Ti₄O₉) nanofibres with the length of several micrometers and the diameter of 100nm were directly synthesized by solid state reaction. The novel phase transformation and structure change behavior was investigated by the X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in details. In series of hydrothermal reaction, the K ₂Ti₄O₉ could transfer to anatase TiO ₂ and rutile TiO₂. Aggregated anatase TiO₂ particles and rod-like rutile TiO₂ were produced respectively in 1M HCl solutions at 160°C and 220°C. When the 0.01M HCl solution was considered as solvent, the mixture of floral anatase TiO₂ and K ₂Ti₄O₉ were present together.