Room temperature synthesis of highly crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles

Hydrolysis of titanium isopropoxide alcoholic solution has been used to prepare the crystallized TiO2 nanoparticles at low temperature. Concentration ratio was used to control the pathway of sol–gel process and change the physical characteristics of TiO2 nanopowders. The crystallinity, morphology and size of aged TiO2 nanopowders were studied by X-ray diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). FTIR and, Thermo-Gravimetric (TG) analysis were used to identify the functional groups and thermal behavior of prepared samples. Experimental results have shown that high crystalline TiO2 nanomaterial with anatase polymorph can be obtained at room temperature. It has been found that the crystallinity of synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles is two times higher than the highest crystalline sample obtained by our last novel method [17].

► Highly crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles have been synthesized. ► Room temperature was used. ► Aging process was used to change the physical properties of TiO2 gel through the polymerization, coarsening and phase transformation.