Low-temperature, solvent-free solid-state synthesis of single-crystalline titanium nitride nanorods with different aspect ratios

Abstract

Titanium nitride nanorods have been successfully synthesized by low temperature solid-state metathesis of titanium (111) chloride and sodium azide without using any organic solvent. The conditions required for the synthesis of these nanorods have been optimized. It was found that the temperature and time of reaction had a significant effect on the product morphology. Thermal treatment at 360 degrees C, for 3 days gave the nanorods of the aspect ratio similar to 10 (i.e. diameter similar to 50 nm and length similar to 500 nm), whereas the thermal treatment at 400 degrees C for 3 days gave the nanorods of the aspect ratio similar to 50 (i.e. diameter similar to 50nm and length similar to 2-3 mu m). Scanning and transmission electron microscopies clearly showed the rod-type morphology. Further evidence for the phase purity and crystallinity of titanium nitride nanorods was given by X-ray diffraction, field emission high-resolution electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.