•Li-doped PbTiO3 perovskite cubic particles have been prepared via a hydrothermal route.•At the initial stage of Li-doping the doped Li + ions substitute for the Pb2 + ions in PbTiO3 lattice.•After the initial, the further doped Li + ions occupy the interstitial spaces of the PbTiO3 lattice.•A lot of Ti3 + ions and oxygen vacancies are induced in the Li-doped PbTiO3 perovskites.•The Li-doped PbTiO3 cubic particles express excellent visible-light photocatalytic activity.Li-doped PbTiO3 perovskite cubic particles were successfully synthesized via a facile and simple hydrothermal method by using lithium nitrate (LiNO3) as additives. Due to the Li-doping, not only the particles become smaller but also some Ti3 + ions and oxygen vacancies are brought about in the lattice of the PbTiO3 perovskite. In consequence, the Li-doped PbTiO3 samples exhibit excellent visible-light photocatalytic performance on the degradation of MB.

•Proposing a simple hydrothermal route for the preparation of Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets.•Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets are dominated with (0 1 0) facets.•Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets are micrometer-size in lateral and ca. 30 nm in thickness.•Preferential adsorption of (C6H10NO8)3− ions on (0 1 0) leads to Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets.•Penetration of K+ induces the overlapped Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets exfoliation.Single-crystalline Auivillium Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets with dominant (0 1 0) facets have been successfully synthesized by using ammonium bismuth citrate (C6H10BiNO8) as bismuth sources via a conventional hydrothermal route. The as-prepared Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets were characterized by X-ray diffracton, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM, and selected area electron diffraction. In order to understand the formation mechanism of the Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets, a set of time-dependent experiments were carried out. The results reveal that the (C6H10NO8)3− ions involved in the feedstock suspensions released by the ionization of C6H10BiNO8 play an important role in the formation of the Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets. A possible formation mechanism of the Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets has been discussed based on the analyses of the lattice structure of Bi4Ti3O12 and the effect of C6H10BiNO8 used in the feedstock precursors.

Flower-like LiMnPO4 nanostructures self-assembled with nanobelts were synthesized via a simple ethylene glycol (EG) solvothermal route, in which lithium acetate, manganese acetate and phosphoric acid are used as the reaction precursors. The primary block LiMnPO4 nanobelts are dominated with (010) facets. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, and N2-physisorption technique were employed to characterize the microstructure and morphologies of the synthesized samples. On the basis of the experimental results, a possible formation mechanism of the flower-like LiMnPO4 nanostructures self-assembled with nanobelts has been discussed. In addition, the electrochemical performance of the mesoporous LiMnPO4 nanostructures is further investigated as positive cathodes in Li-ion batteries.

Single-crystalline bismuth-layered perovskite Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets with a thickness of about 20 nm and a lateral size over several micrometers have been synthesized by a PVA assisted hydrothermal route. The as-prepared Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM. The as-prepared Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets have (010) dominated surface facets. Time-dependent experiments reveal that the layered K2Ti6O13 nanofibers formed in the initial stage of the hydrothermal treatment play a key role in the synthesis of Bi4Ti3O12. In the proceeding hydrothermal treatment, the Bi3+ ions substitute for the K+ ions in the layered K2Ti6O13 and peel off the TiO6 octahedron lamellae from the lattice of K2Ti6O13, which then serves as a template for the formation of lamellar Bi4Ti3O12 by reaction with the dehydrated Bi3+ ions. Finally, the lamellar Bi4Ti3O12 species crystallize and grow to single-crystalline Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets under the effect of the preferential adsorption of PVA on the (010) planes. In addition, the band gap and the optoelectronic properties of the single-crystalline Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets were investigated by measuring their UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectra, respectively.

3D flower-like PbTiO3 nanostructures self-assembled with (101) nanosheets have been realized by the hydrothermal treatment of the mixture of the lead and titanium hydroxides under the effect of high KOH concentration. The layered K2Ti6O13 formed in situ under the effect of the high KOH concentration plays an important role in the crystallization of the primary PbTiO3 nanosheets and the further self-assembly of the 3D flower-like perovskite PbTiO3 nanostructures. The self-assembled 3D flower-like perovskite PbTiO3 nanostructures express good mesoporous structures and high specific surface area. In consequence, the 3D flower-like perovskite PbTiO3 nanostructures as supports show excellent ability to enhance the catalytic activity of Pt. Over the Pt/PbTiO3 nanoflowers, the CO instantaneously completely converts to CO2 at a very low temperature of ca. 107 °C facilitating the catalytic purification of the automotive exhaust produced in the cold-start period.

Single-crystalline tetragonal perovskite lead titanate (PbTiO3) nanosheets with dominant (001) facets have been successfully synthesized by employing layered K2Ti6O13 nanofibers as titanium sources. The as-prepared PbTiO3 nanosheets were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, and selected-area electron diffraction. In order to understand the formation mechanism of the PbTiO3 nanosheets, a series of time-dependent experiments were performed. Because of the substitution of Pb2+ ions for K+ ions, the TiO6 octahedral lamellas exfoliate from the layered K2Ti6O13 crystal structure. Then the exfoliated TiO6 octahedral lamellas as templates transform to lamellar PbTiO3 species by reacting with the dehydrated Pb2+ ions. With hydrothermal treatment prolongation, the lamellar PbTiO3 species crystallize to single-crystalline PbTiO3 nanosheets. Moreover, the thickness of the synthesized single-crystalline PbTiO3 nanosheets can be tailored in the range of 10–50 nm by controlling the hydrothermal treatment time. In addition, the band gap and the optoelectronic properties of the single-crystalline PbTiO3 nanosheets are investigated by UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence.

Single-crystalline tetragonal perovskite PbTiO3 nanosheets are synthesized via a hydrothermal route assisted by NaNO3 and KNO3. Due to the difference in electronegativity, Na+ ions fasten on (001) planes, whereas K+ ions fasten on (111) planes, resulting in PbTiO3 nanosheets with dominant (001) or (111) facets, respectively.

A facile hydrothermal method has been developed to prepare single-crystal BiFeO3 (BFO) microplates, where the raw material (C6H10BiNO8) was used both as a reactant and a surface modifier. The as-synthesised BFO microplates were dominated by (012) facets with the lateral length of 8 μm and thickness of 510–550 μm. The results of XRD, SEM, TEM, HRTEM and FT-IR indicate that the adsorption behaviour of the organic ligands could play a key role in the formation of the BFO microplates. Moreover, the dielectric constant of the BFO–PVDF film is much higher than the pure BFO at room temperature. The specially chosen raw material (C6H10BiNO8) and the proposed formation mechanism of the BFO microplates could be extended to tailor the crystal growth of the 2D structures of other perovskite oxides.

Mesoporous SrTiO3 spheres were synthesized via the self-assembly of nanocrystallites in the presence of Na2SiO3·9H2O through a hydrothermal process. The as-prepared samples were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and nitrogen gas sorption isotherms. The results revealed that the mesoporous spheres consisted of SrTiO3 nanocrystallites with an amorphous silicate shell and mesopores formed among them. Na2SiO3·9H2O played an important role in the formation of the mesoporous SrTiO3 spheres. Based on the experimental results a possible formation mechanism of the mesoporous SrTiO3 spheres was preliminarily proposed.

Single-crystal PbTiO3 nanorods have been synthesized by phase transformation from Pb2Ti2O6 nanorods. In the process, single-crystal Pb2Ti2O6 nanorods were first prepared by hydrothermal method, and single-crystal PbTiO3 nanorods were obtained by phase transition from the resultant Pb2Ti2O6 nanorods. Various approaches including XRD, Raman, TEM, SAED, and HRTEM were used to investigate the as-prepared products. It was found that Pb2Ti2O6 nanorods played a key role in the formation of PbTiO3 nanorods.

Bismuth tungstate (Bi2WO6) nanocrystals with the average size of ca. 12 nm had been successfully synthesized by a simple solvothermal method at 180 °C for 2 h. The as-synthesized Bi2WO6 nanocrystals were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra, and N2 adsorption–desorption measurements. The visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity of the sample was evaluated by photo-degradation of rhodamine-B (RhB) at room temperature, which is much higher than that of the hydrothermal synthesized Bi2WO6 square plates and the commercially available TiO2 (P-25). We believed that the high photocatalytic activity could be ascribed to the intrinsically small grain size and high surface-to-volume ratio associated with the Bi2WO6 nanocrystals.

•Mono-dispersed LiFePO4 nanorods were prepared by hydrothermal treatment.•After annealing the LiFePO4 nanorods form full carbon coating.•The LiFePO4@C nanorods display excellent electrochemical performance.Monodispersed LiFePO4 [001] nanorods have been successfully synthesized via a conventional hydrothermal route with Li2SO4, FeSO4 and KH2PO4 as precursors. Subsequently, in virtue of the good monodispersibility LiFePO4@C core-shell [001] nanorods are facilely prepared by employing a carbon coating process on the obtained monodispersed LiFePO4 [001] nanorods. On the basis of the experimental results, a possible formation mechanism of the monodispersed LiFePO4 [001] nanorods has been proposed. Due to the full carbon coating, size reducing in [010] and the perfect olivine crystal lattice, the LiFePO4@C core-shell [001] nanorods exhibit excellent rate capacity and stable cycle performance.Mono-dispersed LiFePO4@C core-shell nanorods were successfully prepared with the basis of the hydrothermally synthesized monodispersed LiFePO4 nanorods. Due to the nanosization along [010] direction, the perfect lattice structure and full carbon coating, the mono-dispersed LiFePO4@C core-shell nanorods displays excellent high rate capacity and cycle stability.

3D flower-like PbTiO3 nanostructures self-assembled with (101) nanosheets have been realized by the hydrothermal treatment of the mixture of the lead and titanium hydroxides under the effect of high KOH concentration. The layered K2Ti6O13 formed in situ under the effect of the high KOH concentration plays an important role in the crystallization of the primary PbTiO3 nanosheets and the further self-assembly of the 3D flower-like perovskite PbTiO3 nanostructures. The self-assembled 3D flower-like perovskite PbTiO3 nanostructures express good mesoporous structures and high specific surface area. In consequence, the 3D flower-like perovskite PbTiO3 nanostructures as supports show excellent ability to enhance the catalytic activity of Pt. Over the Pt/PbTiO3 nanoflowers, the CO instantaneously completely converts to CO2 at a very low temperature of ca. 107 °C facilitating the catalytic purification of the automotive exhaust produced in the cold-start period.