RutilePhase

RutilePhase is a form of titanium dioxide (TiO2) that represents the rutile polymorph, one of the three major TiO2 phases along with anatase and brookite. It is the thermodynamically stable phase of TiO2 under ambient conditions and is commonly encountered in natural and industrial contexts as both a mineral and a material phase used in pigments and coatings.

The crystal structure of RutilePhase is tetragonal, with space group P4_2/mnm. Titanium atoms reside in sixfold oxygen coordination, forming TiO6 octahedra that share edges to build dense, linear chains along the c axis. This compact arrangement contributes to rutile’s high refractive index and its stability at room temperature.

RutilePhase occurs naturally as the mineral rutile, a major ore of titanium, and can be produced synthetically for various applications. It forms from oxidation processes and can be obtained in nanostructured forms such as nanoparticles, nanorods, and thin films through controlled synthesis methods. Upon heating, anatase can transform to RutilePhase at temperatures typically in the range of 600–900°C in air, while rutile itself remains stable at standard conditions.

Key properties of RutilePhase include a high refractive index (approximately 2.6–2.9) and a wide band gap around 3.0 eV, which give it excellent opacity and UV shielding. It is chemically stable and hard, making it suitable for durable pigments in paints, plastics, and paper. In photocatalysis, rutile is often less active than anatase, though dopants and nanoscale engineering can enhance performance for specific applications.