Effect of Ag doping on structural, electrical and dielectric properties of TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized by a low temperature hydrothermal method

Silver (Ag) doped thermally stable TiO2 nanoparticles in the anatase phase have been synthesized by a low temperature hydrothermal method. The formation of anatase phase has been investigated by X-ray diffraction. Thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry have been used for thermal studies. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy have been used for the morphology and composition studies. Surface areas were studied by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. Dielectric properties were studied for dopant levels of 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 wt% at 300 K in the frequency range of 42 Hz–5 MHz. The crystallite size, alternating current (AC) conductivity and dielectric properties of undoped TiO2 nanoparticles were greatly affected by doping with Ag. At high frequencies, the materials showed high AC Conductivity and low dielectric constant.