Interaction of the solution droplet surface with gaseous components of the environment can lead to the formation of highly ordered patterns, such as dendrites. Here, we show that these structures can be spontaneously created during the open-air interaction of aqueous solution drop of titanium(III) salt with gaseous NH 3 at the contact boundary thereof. The conditions have been identified under which radially ordered dendritic patterns can form on the surface of the TiCl 3 solution droplet. The formation of these self-organized dendrite patterns can be attributed to the surface instability manifesting in Marangoni thermal flows in a droplet occurring during open-air fabrication. The composition of as-synthesized structures corresponds to coprecipitated crystalline NH 4Cl and amorphous TiO 2 nH 2O. After thermal treatment at 450 °C, TiO 2 with the anatase crystal lattice is formed; meanwhile, the ordered dendrite patterns are preserved.

Translated title of the contributionСтратегия для формирования дендритов диоксида титана при взаимодействии газа и поверхности капли водного раствора
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)33831-33837
Number of pages7
JournalACS Omega
Volume8
Issue number37
DOIs
StatePublished - 8 Sep 2023

ID: 110990839