Synthesis of structured titanium dioxide from carbonaceous templates: Preparation of supported nanoscaled titania particles

Titanium dioxide assemblages of various shapes (plaques, tubes) were synthesized by adsorption of a TiCl4 solution in n-hexane on various carbonaceous substrates. A following hydrolysis led to the conversion of the chlorides into the oxide and the decomposition of the substrates. Nanoscaled TiO2 particles were deposited on the whole surface of carbon fibers by a CVD process of respectively POCl3 and TiCl4, followed by controlled heating treatments. Synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and EDS microanalysis.