TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The titanium precursor is titanium alkoxide (preferably titanium tetramethoxide, titanium tetraethoxide, titanium tetra n-propoxide, titanium tetraisopropoxide, titanium tetra n-butoxide, titanium tetra iso-butoxide, especially titanium tetraisopropoxide). Preferred Process: The length of the nanocrystalline particles is less than or equal to 30 (preferably less than or equal to 20) nm. The width of the nanocrystalline particles is less than or equal to 5 (preferably less than or equal to 4) nm. The anatase-phase content is greater than or equal to 95 (preferably greater than or equal to 98)%. The nanorod content is greater than 75 (preferably greater than 80)%. The titanium precursor/alcohol molar ratio is 1/8:1/20 (preferably 1/9:1/15, especially 1/9.5:1/12). The titanium precursor/acid molar ratio is 1/2:1/10 (preferably 1/3:1/7, especially 1/3.5:1/6). The reaction temperature is 80-200 (preferably 90-160, especially 90-140) degrees C.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The alcohol is 6-12C selected from hexan-1-ol, heptan-1-ol, octan-1-ol, 2-ethyl-hexan-1-ol, nonan-1-ol, decan-1-ol, undecan-1-ol, dodecan-1-ol, benzyl alcohol and/or p-methoxybenzyl alcohol (preferably benzyl alcohol, p-methoxybenzyl alcohol, octan-1-ol or 2-ethyl-hexan-1-ol). The organic acid is 1-18C selected from acetic acid, pivalic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, benzoic acid, phenylacetic acid, p-methoxybenzoic acid, 4-pyridylcarboxylic acid, oleic acid and/or adipic acid (preferably acetic acid, benzoic acid, oleic acid and/or adipic acid, especially acetic acid). EXAMPLE - Benzyl alcohol (403 g), acetic acid (90 g) and titanium tetraisopropoxide (106.7 g) were mixed together at room temperature, and heated to reflux temperature of around 110 degrees C. After 5 hours, the solution became cloudy. The mixture was left at reflux for around 24 hours. The mixture was transferred to flask and vacuum-concentrated (0.5 mmHg) at temperature of around 70 degrees C until viscous paste was produced. The residue obtained with ethanol, and with diisopropyl ether, was then filtered and dried at low pressure, yielding titanium dioxide (TiO2) (26.5 g).