Structural evolution and optical properties of C-coated TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by laser pyrolysis

► Carbon-doped TiO2 nanoparticles (using acetylene as precursor) were successful synthesized by the single step laser pyrolysis. ► Nanoparticles with major anatase TiO2 phase and different C concentrations (C/Ti (in at.%) = 0.6-0.8) were prepared. ► Laser synthesized samples have a lower bandgap energy (Eg = 2.59 eV) than the TiO2 Degussa commercial sample.