Ultra-fine crystalline anatase nano-powders of less than 6 nm particle size have been obtained at the early stage of crystallization using the one step low temperature non-aqueous sol gel-solvothermal treatment of the Ti(OBu)4 precursor. The solvothermal treatment is held at 110 oC for 10, 20, 40, 60 hours in the presence of 2-etoxiethanol and ethanol as solvent. Nanostructural development is followed by TEM, HRTEM, electron and X Ray diffraction. Particle coarsening by oriented attachment is evidenced by HRTEM observations and by particle growth kinetics during the solvothermal treatment.
Keywords: Sol gel-solvothermal, Oriented attachment particle coarsening, Anatase nanostructural development.