Rapid synthesis of high surface area anatase Titanium Oxide quantum dots

In this study we report a rapid, easy and scalable technique for synthesizing TiO2 quantum dots by employing a domestic microwave device in just 10 min of reaction time and investigating the effects of changing concentration on various properties and the formation mechanism of the quantum dots. The X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) shows that the as prepared sample was crystalline and free from any impurities. The average crystal size was calculated using the XRD and was found to be between 3.1 nm and 3.9 nm. The crystalline nature and the size were verified by the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) studies. In addition Raman studies and UV-visible analysis were performed and the effect of changing the concentration on size and band gap was studied. The surface area of the sample was calculated using the nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherms (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET)) and the surface area of the sample was found to be 369.02 m2/g; TiO2 quantum dots with this surface area using such a technique have not been reported to the best of our knowledge.