TiO₂ Strelitzia-like Hybrid Nanocomposites Obtained by a Synergic Combination of Vapor Techniques

Abstract

The preliminary results concerning the preparation of a new hybrid nanocomposite material are here presented. The process was achieved by various steps starting from the deposition of anatase TiO 2 on a powder of single wall carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs) via MOCVD by using titanium tetraisopropoxide Ti(O i Pr) 4 as the precursor, then the dispersion and sonication of the obtained hybrid material in water, followed by the deposition onto a conducting ITO substrate, which finally led to the growth of the strelitzia flower-like titania via RF reactive magnetron sputtering employing a metal titanium target. The new hybrid nanocomposite material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The particular experimental conditions in which this singular growth was observed, are discussed.