Preparation of TiO2 nanoparticles by hydrolysis of TiCl4 using water and glycerol solvent system

Abstract

The anatase phase TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by precipitation method using TCl4 as a precursor in a new reaction medium containing water and glycerol. The as-synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-Visible spectroscopy and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The Raman spectra indicate the formation of crystalline anatase phase TiO2 NPs after calcination at 300 and 4000C. TiO2 NPs formation was confirmed by observing the major characteristic, FT-IR vibration bands of Ti-O network. The band gap calculated from UV-Vis DRS spectra ranged from 3.02-3.28 eV. FESEM images exhibit spherical shape TiO2 NPs in the form of nano-clusters with crystallite sizes ranged from 9.5026.14 nm. FESEM images show that as the calcination temperature increases, the sizes of the TiO2 NPs also increase. The inclusion of glycerol promotes the formation of smaller particles and lowers the band gap of TiO2 NPs.