Sucrose-based sol-gel synthesis of microporous titanium carbide as target material for the production of radioisotopes

Abstract

An environment-friendly route for the synthesis of titanium carbide by sol-gel processing is reported. The initial solution is prepared via a simple one-pot approach, using titanium isopropoxide and sucrose as molecular precursors under acidic conditions, therefore promoting intimate interactions between the networks of sucrose and of the titanium alkoxide-derived inorganic polymer at the molecular level. Furthermore, the usage of sucrose represents an established and green solution, and provides a viable alternative to the use of toxic compounds. The resulting gels are dried at 120 °C and then undergo carbothermal reduction in Ar atmosphere at different temperatures ranging from 700 °C to 1750 °C. A systematic study of the obtained material is carried out by using FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, N 2 physisorption and He pycnometry. The characterization techniques show that the sucrose-derived titanium carbide exhibits a tailored microporous structure and larger specific surface area values compared with those of materials produced using the hazardous phenolic resin-based system. This method thus allows the synthesis of titanium carbide with exquisite textural properties and attractive porous architectures, meeting the requirements for the fabrication of target materials in the field of nuclear medicine, with particular interest in the production and release of scandium radioisotopes. • TiC is proposed as target material for the production of Sc isotopes. • Microporous TiC samples were synthesized via sol-gel chemistry. • Sucrose was successfully employed as an eco-friendly carbon source. • Stoichiometric TiC phase is obtained after carbothermal reduction at 1750 °C. • The material shows larger surface area than that of hazardous-compound-based system.