Controlled synthesis and electrical conduction properties of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles via the polyol method

Abstract

This paper reports the preparation and characterization of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) with pure anatase phases using polyol synthesis process. The preparation state and the particle size are controlled by varying the synthesis parameters such as the precursor concentration, hydrolysis rate and the synthesis time. Nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, TEM, FT-IR spectroscopy and the measure of the complex impedance spectroscopy. Their physicochemical properties were investigated to optimize the synthesis conditions. FT-IR spectra exhibit broad peaks where anatase phases of TiO2 demonstrate very sharp peaks. The structural characterization by XRD confirms that there is a formation of anatase TiO2-NPs phases at 550 °C and the crystalline size is in the range of 19–25 nm. The crystallite size of the TiO2 core decreases with the concentration of titanium tetrachloride TiCl4 precursor. Electrical properties and relaxation phenomenon of the material were studied at several temperatures.