The Effect of Acidity and Rotation Speed in Titanium Dioxide Synthesize Process

Abstract

The aims of this study are to analyze the effect of acidity and rotational speed in the synthesis of TiO2 using the sol-gel method and to analyze the morphology of synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles and commercial TiO2 using XRD to produce semiconductors for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) applications. The sol-gel method was used to synthesize TiO2 Nanoparticles. Titanium tetra-isopropoxide (TTIP) was used as a precursor with the variable of the magnetic stirrer rotation speed of 500, 1000 and 1500 rpm. Acidification was achieved by adding acetic acid to Sol-gel solution to produce a pH number of 1, 2, and 3. Nanomaterial was observed with an optical microscope and X-ray Powder Diffraction (X-RD) to determine the morphology and phase of TiO2 crystalline. The results showed that the rotational speed and acidity level of the Sol-gel solution ware played an important role to get the best form of a nanoparticle. At a rotation speed of 1500 rpm with pH 3 and 1000 rpm with pH 2 ware shown characteristics similar to commercial TiO2. In addition to that, the results of XRD characterization of synthesized TiO2 was shown a crystal phase of anatase structure with 18,046 nm crystal size compared to commercial TiO2 with anatase structure and crystal size of 15,554 nm.