Preparation of TiO<sub>2</sub> Nanopowders by Non-Hydrolytic Sol−Gel and Solvothermal Synthesis

Abstract

TiO2 nanopowders were synthesized by non-hydrolytic sol−gel synthesis and solvothermal method. Effects of the type of alcohol on the properties of TiO2 nanopowders were investigated. XRD and FSEM were used to characterize TiO2 nanopowders. The results showed that TiO2 nanopowders with diameters of about 50nm and micro-spheres with diameters of about 400~500nm were obtained by non-hydrolytic sol−gel synthesis, when ethanol and isopropanol were used as oxygen donor and solvent, respectively. TiO2 prepared with ethanol by non-hydrolytic sol−gel synthesis and calcined at 700°C consisted only 3.8% rutile phase. After solvothermal synthesis, TiO2 nanopowders with diameters of about 50nm were obtained when ethanol and isopropanol were used as the oxygen donor. However, submicrometer spheres with uniform size distribution were obtained with 1-octanol.