Ionothermal synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles: Photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Rutile phase TiO2 nanoparticles have been successfully prepared at 120 °C for one day via the ionothermal method using imidazolium based functionalized ionic liquid. The obtained products have been characterized by various techniques. XRD pattern shows rutile phase with crystallite size ∼15 nm. FTIR shows a band at ∼410 cm−1 assigned to Ti-O-Ti stretching vibrations and few other bands due to the presence of ionic liquid. UV-vis studies show maximum absorbance at ∼215 nm due to the imidazolium moiety and a band at 316 nm due to TiO2 nanoparticles. TEM images show that the size of particle is ∼30 nm. TG-DTA shows weight loss corresponding to the formation of stable TiO2 nanoparticles. The rutile TiO2 nanoparticle is a promising material for hydrogen generation through photocatalysis.