Synthesis of TiO₂ nanoparticles by polyol method and its photocatalytic property

Full text: Titanium dioxide has been studied because of its optical, electrical and photocatalytic applications, which depend on the microstructure, phases and chemical compositions. Among the crystalline forms of titanium dioxide, anatase phase has received considerable attention because of its photochemical properties as catalysts for photodecomposition and solar energy conversion [1-3]. In this work, we report the synthesis of crystalline anatase TiO₂ by polyol method and its photocatalytic property. The typical synthesis was carried out at 220°C during 10 h and the material was cooled naturally to room temperature. The TiO₂ phases were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and indexed with JCPDS 71-1166 card. The nanoparticles were also characterized by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The photocatalytic efficiency was measured during the degradation of methylene blue dye under UV light emission. References: [1] Q. Yan, X. Su, Z. Huang, J. of the European Ceramic Society 26 (2006) 915-921. [2] J. Xie, D. Jiang, M. Chen, D. Li, J. Zhu, X. Lü, C. Yan, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochem. Eng. Aspects 372 (2010) 107-114. [3] H. Ou, M. R. Hoffmann, C. Liao, J. Hong, S. Lo, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 99 (2010) 74-80. (author)