In situ-templated hydrothermal synthesis of Fe-doped anatase nanorods Original Research Article

Anatase single crystal nanorods with aspect ratios of 4–10 and diameters of 70–100 nm were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of tetraethylammonium hydroxide peptized titania sol doped with Fe(III) cations at 200 °C. Two types of iron sources were used as dopants: (i) Fe(NO3)3, which could form α-FeOOH during the hydrothermal synthesis; (ii) hydrothermally synthesized α-FeOOH. The formation of anatase nanorods in the Fe3+ doped titania could be attributed to porous goethite (α-FeOOH) rods formed during the hydrothermal treatment. The in situ formed α-FeOOH template could lead to well dispersed anatase nanorod crystals in contrast to the strongly agglomerated rods obtained when adding as-synthesized α-FeOOH. The templates do not need to be removed since a solid solution forms between the Fe ions and anatase during hydrothermal treatment.