Synthesis and characterization of surface protected nanocrystalline particles of titania

Monodisperse non-aggregated nanoparticles of titania are obtained through hydrolysis at 60 degrees C of titanium butoxide in the presence of acetylacetone and para-toluene sulfonic acid. After drying the resulting xerosols can be dispersed without aggregation in water-alcoholic or alcoholic solutions. The characterizations of the nanoparticles have been carried out by using quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS), C-13 H-1 NMR in solution and X-ray diffraction, TEM, TG-DTA, C-13 CP-MAS NMR in the solid state. The mean size of the anatase oxide core can be adjusted in the 1 to 5 nanometer range by a careful tuning of the synthetic conditions. The anatase particles are surrounded by acetylacetonato ligands, para-toluene sulfonate based species and water.