Synthesis Of TiO2 Nanoparticles Research Articles

Synthesis and Characterization of TiO2 nanoparticles using Butea monosperma and Woodfordia fruticosa: Green approach

Synthesis of nanoparticles through plant-based products which are eco-friendly and safer, can be used for various purposes such as environmental, biomedical and antibacterial applications. The present work deals with an environmentally benign process for the synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles using Butea monosperma and Woodfordia fruticosa plants. Synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles using whole-plant extract were characterized using UV-VIS, FTIR, XRD and SEM analysis. The appearance of a characteristic vibrational mode of TiO2 in the range of 880 and 450 cm-1 confirmed the synthesis of nanoparticles. In the case of UV-VIS analysis, a red shift was observed in the band position as the calcination temperature was increased. XRD and SEM analysis helped in determining crystalline phase and morphology respectively.

TiO2 nanoparticles derived from egg shell waste: Eco synthesis, characterization, biological and photocatalytic applications

Biosynthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles has attracted much attention in recent years owing to the increasing impact for improving hygienic substances, cost effective approaches, environment friendly solvents and reusable resources. The present study has shown the eco synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles using the aqueous extract of egg shell waste. UV, XRD, FT-IR, and FE-SEM with EDX methods were implied for TiO2 nanoparticles. The agar well approach was used to investigate the antimicrobial properties of biosynthesized nanoparticles against pathogenic organisms. The cytotoxicity analysis was investigated by MTT assay method and photocatalytic activity was studied using methylene blue, methyl orange and Congo red dye. X-ray diffraction studies showed that the presence of tetragonal structure. The crystallite size of synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles is 27.3 nm. FE-SEM analysis indicates that the average grain size of the prepared sample was found to be in the range of 30–40 nm. Eco synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles displayed amazing antimicrobial efficacies against human pathogenic organisms and obtained excellent cytotoxicity investigation was performed against Osteosarcoma cell lines (MG-63). Further it was also found that the expression of impressive catalytic efficiency, 91.1 percent decreased in 60 min for methylene blue. From the results, we found that eco synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles has promising utility in multidisciplinary like antimicrobial, anticancer and photocatalytic applications.

Biological synthesis and characterization of titanium dioxide nanoparticle from Cynodon dactylon

There are several advantages of using a biological technique to produce nanoparticles versus a chemical method. The primary goal of this work is to characterize and biologically synthesize titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles from Cynodon dactylon. The characterization has experimented with UV-Vis Spectroscopy, EDX analysis, SEM, XRD, and FTIR. The suggested study uses a simple biological technique to accomplish the systematic biological synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles utilizing Cynodon dactylon plant extract and titanium tetra isopropoxide as a precursor. UV-Vis spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) are used to confirm the fabrication of the TiO2 nanoparticles. The plant extract as well as titanium-based nanoparticles of the herb, Cynodon dactylon will be tested for its antibacterial activity against human pathogens. This eco-friendly technique for nanoparticle synthesis is straightforward and adaptable to major commercial manufacturing and technological applications. Cynodon dactylon biosynthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles is efficient, nutrition dependent, does not employ hazardous compounds, and happens at neutral pH levels. The antibacterial study results show that TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized using Cynodon dactylon have good antibacterial properties. TiO2 nanoparticle method of action against bacteria is unknown. This is an alternative process for synthesising TiO2 nanoparticles, apart from other chemical protocols, since this is quick and non-toxic. The antimicrobial property of biologically synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter baumannii was tested at four different doses of 15 µl/mg, 25 µl/mg, 50 µl/mg, and 75 µl/mg. The present results revealed the 75 µl/mg concentration got the highest zone of inhibition (15, 13, 15 mm) for Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Many nanoparticles smaller than 100 nm are firmly agglomerated with each other in the study. TiO2 nanoparticles absorb in the UV region of 200 to 400 nm. XRD measurements confirmed the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles in the biologically produced sample. In our work, EDX was used to confirm the existence of Ti after its synthesis by Cynodon dactylon. The biosynthesized TiO2 nanoparticles utilizing Cynodon dactylon plant extracts exhibit a good potent antibacterial activity. The proposed results showed that the TiO2 nanoparticles are well suited for biomedical applications. The suggested research identifies several eco-friendly, biological, and cost-effective procedures for manufacturing nano-coated herbal products. The agar well diffusion technique was used to assess antibacterial activities toward test pathogens such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli.

TiO2 nanoparticle synthesis, characterization and application to shoot regeneration of water hyssop (Bacopa monnieri L. Pennel) in vitro

ABSTRACT Water hyssop (Bacopa monnieri L. Pennel) is a medicinal aquatic herb used to treat diseases in South Asia. Various regeneration protocols have been developed or modified in vitro to ensure the availability of biomass and secondary metabolites of Bacopa. We applied hydrothermally treated titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) (TiO2-NPs) at different concentrations. Three explants, distal portion of half leaf (DPHL), proximal portion of half leaf (PPHL) and full leaf (FL), were used to evaluate response to TiO2. Regeneration from the three explants in vitro was similar except for shoot length. Application of TiO2-NPs exerted significant, but variable, effects on all parameters except percentage of shoot formation, which was 100%. Interactive effects of explant and TiO2-NPs exhibited significant, but variable, effects on fresh weight and percentage of callus formation. All explants produced more shoots using TiO2-NPs compared to control treatments. DPHL explants with application of 8 mg/l TiO2 produced more shoots than controls. Similarly, FL explant treated with 2 mg/l TiO2-NPs produced more shoots/explant than controls. All concentrations of TiO2-NPs produced significantly longer shoots compared to controls. Increased elongation of shoots justifies use of TiO2-NPs for propagation of plants in vitro during acclimatization. Use of TiO2-NPs for rapid elongation of shoots ultimately fosters survival of plants.

Green synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticle using Lactobacillus sp. a literature review

A critical aspect of the development of nanoparticles as a photocatalyst is the method that can be realized by physical, chemical, or biological processes or their combinations. The synthesis of nanoparticles with biological methods using a green bio-chemical approach is often referred to as a green synthesis that is carried out by utilizing various sources of plants or plant waste, algae, enzymes, or microorganisms as bioreductants. This study aims to review recent literature on TiO2 nanoparticles synthesis as photocatalyst using Lactobacillus sp. The review results show that the success of the synthesis of nanoparticles is mainly influenced by the characteristics of the bioreductant used, the concentration of metal ions in the solution, and the temperature applied during the synthesis. Lactobacillus sp was identified as a prospective bioreductant because of its ability to adapt to a wider variety of incubation conditions and produce enzymes that can form TiO2 nanoparticles with superior characteristics. The factors to be studied further include the optimum concentration of the metal ions and the optimum temperature of the process. The green TiO2 nanoparticles depend on the factors that need to be characterized and proved as a photocatalyst in advanced wastewater treatment for its recycling.

Synthesis; Characterization and Photocatalytic Activity Studying of TiO2

Preparation of TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the nanoparticles. The synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles was carried out consuming the sol-gel and direct precipitation methods. The TiO2 nanoparticles were calcined for 2 hours at temperatures of 200°C. X-Ray diffraction.(XRD) and scanning electronic microscopy were used to explore the structural, morphological, and chemical aspects of produced TiO2 nanoparticles in the second half (SEM). The range of 90 nm, the average crystallite sizes and particle sizes of catalyst nanoparticles were estimated. In this example, however, the crystallite size as determined by particle size was 50 nm. The structural analysis of TiO2 nanoparticles using XRD patterns revealed that anatase is the predominant phase and mixed phases are present in all of them.

Selective adsorption of epigallocatechin gallate onto highly reusable gallium doped mesoporous TiO2 nanoparticles adsorbent

This work describes a potential selective adsorption of epigallocatechin gallate by Ga-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and showed excellent adsorption (∼99%) and desorption capacity even after the 7th run. The work reports about a surfactant mediated template based synthesis of both pristine and Ga-doped TiO2 mesoporous NPs to study the adsorption behavior EGCG. EGCG is the most abundant and bio-active compound capable of showing free radical scavenging activity, anticancer, antibacterial, and several other physiological functions. Therefore, extraction of EGCG is highly desirable for incorporation in food items that can effectively increase their nutritional and medicinal values. The pore diameter of the synthesized materials was found to be in the range 8.76–10.38 nm and the specific surface area was found to be around 25.80–58.72 m2/g. The particle size decreased from 25 nm to 15 nm in presence of Ga. A mixture of anatase and brookite phase was observed for all the synthesized TiO2 NPs. The band gap value initially (3.40 eV) decreased in presence of minute amounts of Ga (3.44 eV) but then increased (3.59 eV) with the increase of Ga percentage. The point of zero charge (PZC) value of the materials lies in the range of 6.6–7.2. The adsorption study was carried out at different pH (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9) with variation of shaking time (1 h, 3 h, 5 h and 7 h). The material containing maximum Ga in the Ga-doped set (Set 3 TiO2 NPs) showed highest adsorption percentage (99.45%) in pH 1 medium after 5 h shaking. The adsorption isotherm and the kinetics follow the Langmuir model and pseudo-second order respectively. Desorption was studied under high energy gamma rays, shaking, sonication and UV irradiation. The highest desorption (∼96%) was obtained with sonication for 30 min.

Ultrazvočna razpršilna piroliza materialov, na primeru TiO2 nanodelcev

This article presents new technological advances, trends and the latest scientific results of the bottom-up nanotechnology method called Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis (USP) in comparison with other similar processes. USP can produce micro and even nanoparticles from aerosol, which is generated with the use of ultrasound from a chosen solution. Review will show some latest key findings in the field of USP, with the focus of getting a new improved solution, not only in Nanotechnology, but also in a wide range of materials` synthesis, including Micro- and Metastable or Multicomponent forms to increase their transition for special application in different engineering areas in the future. The paper concludes with a presentation of the USP synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles and their characterization.

Concentration Quantification of TiO2 Nanoparticles Synthesized by Laser Ablation of a Ti Target in Water.

In this work, we present a quantitative method for determining the concentration of metal oxide nanoparticles (NP) synthesized by laser ablation in liquid. The case study was performed with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NP), which were synthesized by laser ablation of a Ti target in water. After synthesis, a colloidal solution was analyzed with UV-Vis spectroscopy. At the same time, the craters that remained on the Ti target after ablation were evaluated with an optical microscope to determine the volume of the ablated material. SEM microscopy was used to determine the TiO2 NP size distribution. It was found that synthesized TiO2 NP followed a Log-Normal diameter distribution with a maximum at about 64 nm. From the volume of ablated material and NP size distribution, under the assumption that most of the ablated material is consumed to form nanoparticles, a concentration of nanoparticles can be determined. The proposed method is verified by comparing the calculated concentrations to the values obtained from the Beer–Lambert law using the Mie scattering theory for the NP cross-section calculation.

Photoenhanced Degradation of Cationic Dye (Methylene Blue) Using Biogenic Titania from Malus Domestica Extract

Herein synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles is reported via green synthesis route by using Malus Domestics (Apple) for degradation of methylene blue that belongs to the family of cationic dyes. Malus Domestica extract was selected as stabilizing and bio-reducing agent due to the presence of phytochemicals like quercetin and chlorogenic acid. Surface topography studied through SEM exhibits dense, spherical, and scattered particles of TiO2. XRD patterns confirmed the formation of anatase phase with 13 nm crystalline size. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the Ti-O-Ti bond formation. Optical visible range was evaluated to be 390 nm using UV-vis Spectroscopy. TiO2 synthesized through green route degraded 98% of MB in irradiation time of 120 mins.

Graphite Counter Electrode for Cost Effective Dye Sensitized Solar Cells (DSSCs)

Hydrothermally synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles were coated onto FTO glass plates and sensitized with Eosin Y (EY) dye. The graphite counter electrode (G) was fabricated by G coating onto the Al and then the cells were assembled by sandwiching the TiO2 photo anode (soaked in EY) and the counter electrode. The assembled FTO/TiO2+EY/Electrolyte/GCE solar cells were subjected to I-V characteristics under a light source of 100mW/cm2. I-V measurement was carried out for Pt CE, and for the G CE based DSSCs. The result cell with Pt CE shows high open circuit voltage (VOC ) 0.717V and fill factor (FF) 0.51, where the G CE based cell gives short circuit current (ISC ) 1.4 mA and photo conversion efficiency (η) 0.56%. Finally, the cell which is fabricated with G counter electrode shows better performance than the Pt CE based cell.

A Multi-Physic Modelling Insight into the Differences between Microwave and Conventional Heating for the Synthesis of TiO2 Nanoparticles

Microwave-assisted synthesis of nanoparticles usually leads to a smaller and more uniformly distributed particle size compared to conventional heating (e.g., oil bath). Numerical simulation can help to obtain a better insight into the process in terms of temperature distribution or to evidence existing different temperature profiles and heating rates between the two techniques. In this paper multi-physics numerical simulation is used to investigate the continuous flow synthesis of titanium oxide nanoparticles starting from alkoxide precursors. Temperature-dependent permittivity of reactants has been measured, including the effects of permanence at the maximum synthesis temperature. A temperature homogeneity index has been defined to compare microwave and conventional heating. Results show that when using microwave heating at 2450 MHz, in the investigated conditions, a much higher temperature homogeneity of the reactants is reached. Moreover, reactants experience different heating rates, depending on their position inside the microwave applicator, while this is almost negligible in the case of conventional heating.

Comparison between cotton fiber and cellulose powder for wastewater treatment efficiency with nano-crystalline TiO2 by sono-synthesis

PurposeThe main purpose of this study was to prepare the cotton fibers and cellulose powder by a layer of nano-crystalline-titanium dioxide (TiO2) using the sol-gel sono-synthesis method to clean the wastewater containing reactive dye. Moreover, TiO2 nano-materials are remarkable due to their photoactive properties and valuable applications in wastewater treatment.Design/methodology/approachIn this research, TiO2 was synthesized and deposited effectively on cotton fibers and cellulose powder using ultrasound-assisted coating. Further, tetra butyl titanate was used as a precursor to the synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles. Reactive dye (red 195) was used in this study. X-ray Diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were performed to prove the aptitude for the formation of crystal TiO2 on the cotton fibers and cellulose powder along with TiO2 nanoparticles as well as to analyze the chemical structure. Decoloration of the wastewater was investigated through ultraviolet (UV-Visible) light at 30 min.FindingsThe experimental results revealed that the decolorization was completed at 2.0 min with the cellulose nano TiO2 treatment whereas cotton nano TiO2 treated solution contained reactive dyestuffs even after the treatment of 2 min. This was the fastest method up to now than all reported methods for sustainable decolorization of wastewater by absorption. Furthermore, this study explored that the cellulose TiO2 nano-composite was more effective than the cotton TiO2 nano-composite of decoloration wastewater for the eco-friendly remedy.Research limitations/implicationsCotton fibers and cellulose powder with nano-TiO2, and only reactive dye (red 195) were tested.Practical implicationsWith reactive dye-containing wastewater, it seems to be easier to get rid of the dye than to retain it, especially from dyeing of yarn, fabric, apparel, and as well as other sectors where dyestuffs are used.Social implicationsThis research would help to reduce pollution in the environment as well as save energy and cost.Originality/valueDecoloration of wastewater treatment is an essential new track with nano-crystalline TiO2 to fast and efficient cleaning of reactive dyes containing wastewater used as a raw material.

Mixed-Phase TiO2 with Oxygen Vacancies for Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalysis Performance

Because of the decrease in the band gap and the carrier recombination rate, the visible light photocatalysis performance of the mixed-phase TiO2 with oxygen vacancies is better than that of the pure-phase TiO2. In this study, two different acids were separately applied in the hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles without any post-heat treatment. The reaction was carried out at a relatively low temperature not exceeding 140∘C. Both kinds of crystallized TiO2 powders show much more band gap reduction than that of commercial Degussa P25 TiO2 nanoparticles, which can be attributed to the oxygen vacancies. Under the visible light illumination-assisted photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange in water, the two mixed-phase TiO2 powders exhibited a steady photocatalytic activity upon increasing to five cycles. The highest photocatalytic efficiency of the two powders is 2.7 times than that of the P25 powder, which is regarded as an excellent photocatalyst for water purification.

Effect of Self-Made TiO2 Nanoparticle Size on the Performance of the PVDF Composite Membrane in MBR for Landfill Leachate Treatment.

The pollutant composition of landfill leachate is complex, and pollutant concentrations change greatly. Moreover, landfill leachates can easily penetrate into the soil and eventually pollute the ground water, which can cause environmental pollution and threaten human health. At present, landfill leachate treatment technology is still not mature. In this paper, the A/O-MBR (Anoxic–Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor) process is proposed to treat landfill leachate. To increase the hydrophilicity of the membranes and reduce the pollution of the membranes, the self-made TiO2 nanoparticles were used to modify the ultrafiltration membranes (PVDF-2). Meanwhile, PVDF-2 composite membranes showed the best separation performance. The optimum operating parameters were determined by changing the concentration of the pollutants in the reactor and selecting the dissolved oxygen, pH, and hydraulic residence time. The results show that the optimum operating conditions of MBR are mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) = 3200 mg/L, DO = 1.5–2.5 mg/L in a nitrifying tank, DO = 0–0.5 mg/L in a denitrifying tank, pH = 7–8, and a hydraulic retention time (HRT) = 5 h. To reach the “Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants” (GB18918-2002), the effluent of the MBR system further enters into the RO system. This work presents an environmentally friendly synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles and added into PVDF. The addition of self-made TiO2 in PVDF membrane has improved the antifouling performance significantly, which has the potential for the treatment of landfill leachate.

Green synthesis and antimicrobial efficacy of titanium dioxide nanoparticles using Luffa acutangula leaf extract

The present study deals with the synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles using Luffa acutangula leaf extract and explore the antimicrobial potential of synthesized nanoparticles. The biosynthesized TiO2 nanoparticles were characterized using different spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The absorption spectrum of synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles were primarily characterized by Ultraviolet visible (UV–vis) spectrophotometer. The functional groups associated with the TiO2 nanoparticles and the Luffa acutangula leaf extract were examined by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The crystalline structure of nanoparticles were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) examination. Morphological characters were examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope -Selective Area Electron Diffraction (TEM - SAED). Presence of elemental composition of synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles were characterized by Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). The antimicrobial properties of the TiO2 nanoparticles were observed to be highly toxic against bacterial strainsare Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumoniae), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and the fungal strains are Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus), Aspergillus niger (A. niger), Rhizopus oryzae (R. oryzae) and Sclerotium rolfsii (S. Rolfsii). The zone of inhibition was estimated by disc diffusion assay and moreover, minimum inhibitory concentration was evaluated by the micro broth dilution assay. It can be concluded that titanium dioxide nanoparticles manifest a strong antimicrobial action and thus can be developed as a novel type of antimicrobial materials for the cure of microbial infections.

Synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles out of fluoride solutions

In the paper, synthesis process of the TiO2 particles was discussed, from the fluoride solution, through TiO2·nH2O gel thermal precipitation and decomposition, and its impact on the further sintering of the obtained powders. It was demonstrated that the main phase of the obtained titania was anatase. Morphology of the obtained TiO2 can be controlled through variations of the precipitation temperature and the emulsifier concentration. It was found that the addition of the chloride ions during gel formation caused crystallization of the (NH4)2TiOF4 phase. When it underwent decomposition under heating, agglomerated particles in form of rods several micrometers long were synthesized. Obtained powders were sintered, and both the sintering process and the final bulk structures were examined. The results indicated the lowest microhardness of 540 kg/mm2 in the specimens prepared out of the powders synthesized without emulsifier, while the highest hardness of 1450 kg/mm2 was reached when the TiO2 particles had been precipitated at room temperature with emulsifier proportion С(Ti):C(OР9) = 1:0.5. However, further increase of the emulsifier concentration led to the decrease of hardness.

Shed light on defect induced enhanced visible-light photocatalysis activity of rutile TiO2 nanoparticles: effects of annealing on blue-gray to light–gray transition

Preparation of the defective TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) have been recently in particular interest for its outstanding applications in visible-light active photocatalysis. In order to make TiO2 visible-light absorber, optical band gap should be modified especially via introducing structural defects like oxygen vacancies as an effective pathway. In this research, we prepared defective rutile TiO2 NPs with highly efficient photocatalytic activity under visible light. The NPs were synthesized by electric arc discharge in water as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method with capability of defect formation which followed by heat treatment. The photocatalytic activity improvement mechanisms based on oxygen vacancies were supported by TEM, XPS, XRD, PL and optical spectroscopy characterizations. Spherical TiO2 NPs with average size of 23, 28, 38, and 50 nm were obtained for pristine, and annealed samples at 300, 500 and 700 °C respectively. The optical band gaps of NPs decreased from 2.9 to 2.0 eV with annealing temperature, and a concurrent color change from blue-gray to light-gray. The XPS results confirm the presence of vacant oxygen and surface OH defects in all TiO2 samples. The results reveal that concentration of surface defects and mostly the oxygen vacancies play a crucial role in visible light photoactivity of gray TiO2 nanostructures. In the synthesized TiO2 NPs, the sample with the lowest concentration of non-lattice oxygen exhibit better degradation efficiency than other samples. The results provide a flexible method for synthesis of defective rutile TiO2 as a highly efficient visible active photocatalyst nanomaterial.

In-situ continuous hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles on conductive N-doped MXene nanosheets for binder-free Li-ion battery anodes

Anode materials are key to determining the energy density, cyclability and of life recyclability for Li-ion energy storage systems. High surface area materials, such as MXenes, can be manufactured with improved electrochemical properties that remove the need for polymeric binders or hazardous chemicals that pose a challenge to recycle Li-ion batteries. However, there remains a challenge to produce Li-ion anode materials that are binder free and poses energy storage characteristics that match the current carbon-based electrodes. Here we show the synthesis of N-doped MXene-TiO2 hybrid anode materials using an aqueous route. N-doped TiO2-MXene was modified using a single step continuous hydrothermal process. Capacity tests indicate an improvement from the initial specific energy capacity of 305 mAhg−1 to 369 mAhg−1 after 100 cycles at a charge rate of 0.1 C and a Coulombic efficiency of 99.7%. This compares to 252 mAhg−1 for the unmodified MXene which exhibited significant capacity fade to 140 mAhg−1. The ability to manufacture a Li-ion anode that does not require toxic chemicals for processing into an electrode and exhibits good energy storage characteristics in a binder free system is a significant step forward for energy storage applications.

Precursor induced evolution in single anatase phase synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles for water treatment and dye-sensitized solar cell

TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized by employing the pure and special sol-gel approach with different precursors viz. micro-sized TiO2 powder, TiCl4 (Titanium tetrachloride) and TTIP (Titanium isopropoxide). The synthesized NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV–Vis spectrographic analysis and Photoluminescence spectrographic analysis. The XRD results show single anatase phase for all the precursor-based samples. The characterizations results lead to originate that the TiCl4 precursor based TiO2 NPs are the finest NPs with admirable results. No phase transformation was observed in micro-sized TiO2 precursor-based NPs even after annealed at various temperatures (300 °C, 600 °C, and 900 °C). The TiCl4 precursor-based NPs were used for water treatment with UV radiation exposure and treated water samples were analysed with UV–visible spectrographic technique. Further, micro-sized and TiCl4 precursor based TiO2 NPs were also used in fabricating dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC).