Effect of processing methods on physicochemical properties of titania nanoparticles produced from natural rutile sand

Titania (TiO2) nanoparticles were produced from natural rutile sand using different approaches such as sol–gel, sonication and spray pyrolysis. The inexpensive titanium sulphate precursor was extracted from rutile sand by employing simple chemical method and used for the production of TiO2 nanoparticles. Particle size, crystalline structure, surface area, morphology and band gap of the produced nanoparticles are discussed and compared with the different production methods such as sol–gel, sonication and spray pyrolysis. Mean size distribution (d50) of obtained particles is 76 ± 3, 68 ± 3 and 38 ± 3 nm, respectively, for sol–gel, sonication and spray pyrolysis techniques. The band gap (3.168 < 3.215 < 3.240 eV) and surface area (36 < 60 < 103 m2 g−1) of particles are increased with decreasing particle size (76 > 68 > 38 nm), when the process methodology is changed from sol–gel to sonication and sonication to the spray pyrolysis. Among the three methods, spray pyrolysis yields high-surface particles with active semiconductor bandgap energy. The effects of concentration of the precursor, pressure and working temperature are less significant for large-scale production of TiO2 nanoparticles from natural minerals.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights• Bulk production of TiO2 nanoparticles from rutile sand using inexpensive methods. • Optimisation of the production rate, particle size, surface area and bandgap. • Surface area and bandgap increased with decreasing particle size. • High-purity of active TiO2 semiconductor nanoparticles for solar energy conversion. • Particle size, purity, bandgap are in close resemblance to the Degussa P25TiO2.