Highly crystalline mesoporous TiO₂(B) nanofibers

Efforts are being made to improve crystalline properties of the skeletons of mesoporous TiO₂. On the basis of the unique crystal structures and versatile phase evolution of K₂Ti₂O₅, we obtain mesoporous TiO₂(B) nanofibers (M-NFs) with highly crystalline and high-energy facets exposed skeletons via a cheap and scalable route. Verified by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and N₂ adsorption, these special structures come from layered structure of K₂Ti₂O ₅ and subsequent interlayer splitting and exfoliating and intralayer topotactic transformation. Because of their well-organized frameworks and high surface area, M-NFs exhibit efficient photogenerated charge transportation and hydrogen production, showing better charge mobility along one-dimensional and highly crystalline skeletons than irregularly shaped polycrystalline counterpart and more accessible reactive sites due to larger surface area than single crystal nonporous counterpart.