Influence of the Hydrothermal Synthesis Conditions on the Photocatalytic Activity of Titanium Dioxide Nanorods

Films of TiO2 nanorods prepared under different conditions of hydrothermal synthesis were studied. With an increase in the hydrothermal synthesis temperature at a synthesis time of 24 h, the length of the TiO2 nanorods formed first increases and then decreases, and the nanorod diameter changes. The TiO2 film consisting of nanorods 4100 nm long and 100 nm in diameter, prepared at 180°C, exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity. This effect is predominantly associated with high specific surface area of the samples.