Shape-controlled growth of SrTiO3 polyhedral submicro/nanocrystals

A series of SrTiO3 polyhedral submicro/nanocrystals with systematic morphology evolution from cubic to edge-truncated cubic and truncated rhombic dodecahedra have been synthesized by using a series of alcohol molecules with different acidities as surfactants. The concentration and pKa value of the alcohols both play important roles in determining the size and shape of the SrTiO3 polyhedral submicro/nanocrystals. The adsorption energy of alcohol molecules on SrTiO3 {110} facets depends on their pKa values, which are therefore critical for morphology control. Using the same strategy, a series of BaTiO3 polyhedral submicro/nanocrystals with systematic morphology evolution have also been successfully prepared.