This work reports the interaction of sodium titanate nanotubes (Na-TiNT) with aqueous solutions of benzoic and phenylphosphonic acids and of aniline. The Na-TiNT were obtained from hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 in aqueous NaOH solution. The results obtained from FTIR, XRD, TEM and elemental analyses showed that the chemical, structural and morphological stability of the nanotubes is related to the medium (acidic or basic) and to the treatment conditions (temperature and contact time). A titanium(IV) α-phenylphosphonate phase was obtained from interaction between Na-TiNT and phenylphosphonic acid. The amount and crystallinity of the new phase were dependent of the contact time and temperature, respectively. On the other hand, TiO2 or proton-rich titanate nanotubes were formed, depending on treatment conditions, from interaction between Na-TiNT and benzoic acid. When Na-TiNT interacted with aniline, no chemical, morphological or compositional change was observed.
titanium oxide; titanium oxide nanotubes; phase transformation; adsorption; carboxylic acid
