Synthesis of titanate, TiO{sub 2} (B), and anatase TiO{sub 2} nanofibers from natural rutile sand

Titanate nanofibers were synthesized by hydrothermal method (150 deg. C for 72 h) using natural rutile sand as the starting materials. TiO{sub 2} (B) and anatase TiO{sub 2} (high crystallinity) nanofibers with the diameters of 20-100 nm and the lengths of 10-100 {mu}m were obtained by calcined titanate nanofibers for 4 h at 400 and 700 deg. C (in air), respectively. The samples characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, SAED, HRTEM, and BET surface area. This synthesis method provides a simple route to fabricate one-dimensional nanostructured TiO{sub 2} from low cost material. -- Graphical abstract: Titanate nanofibers (b) were synthesized by hydrothermal method (150 deg. C for 72 h) using natural rutile sand (a) as the starting materials. TiO{sub 2} (B) (c) and anatase TiO{sub 2} (d) nanofibers with the diameters of 20-50 nm and the lengths of 10-100 {mu}m were obtained by calcined titanate nanofibers for 4 h at 400 deg. C and 700 deg. C (in air), respectively.