Synthesis, characterization and study of photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanoparticles of TiO2 have attracted significant interest due to their special properties and have attained a great importance in several technological applications such as photocatalysis, sensors, solar cells and memory devices. Titania commonly exists in anatase (tetragonal), brookite (orthorhombic) and rutile (tetragonal) phase. In the present work, TiO2 nanoparticles of rutile phase were prepared by a simple chemical precipitation method using titanium tetra isopropoxide as a precursor. The band gap of the nanoparticles of TiO2 was calculated from the UV–Visible absorption spectrum and was found to be 3 eV which was less compared to bulk TiO2. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles was studied on photo degradation of methylene blue and observed that methylene blue was degraded with increase in time.