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 pK a 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 pK a 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.