Synthesis of Nanocrystalline TiO2 Particles and Their Structural Characteristics

Controlled nanosized TiO2 particles of 4–10 nm were synthesized by a simple hydrolysis method followed by calcination at different temperatures. These particles were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Photoacoustic/Fourier transform infrared (PA/FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy to understand their structural properties. X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the anatase phase of the particles where as the PA/FTIR revealed the bands around 1,500 and 3,300 cm−1 due to –OH bands. ESR spectroscopic investigations carried out from 5 to 300 K indicated the presence of an ESR line at g = 2.00 emerging from radical species. It is significant to note that the intensity of the ESR line decreased as the particle size increased.