Synthesis of titanium dioxide nano-powder via sol-gel method at ambient temperature

Titanium dioxide is a semiconductor with excellent photo catalytic properties and an important material with high regarded in nanotechnology. In this study, titanium dioxide nanoparticles was successfully synthesized via sol-gel method using tetra-n-butyl orthotitanate, hydrochloric acid and ammonia. Tetra-n-butyl orthotitanate was used as precursor. The ingredients were mixed at ambient temperature for 9 h on a magnetic stirring, sol was formed and converted to gel by adding ammonia. X-ray diffraction analysis clearly showed anatase and rutile phases so that, with increasing calcination temperature anatase converts to the rutile. Scanning electron microscopy was used for agglomerate observations. Energy-dispersive detector analysis was carried out and confirmed the formation of titanium dioxide. The influences of calcination temperature and pH value on particles size were studied. The results indicate that synthesis at room temperature reduced the particle size to 15 nm.