Preparation of TiO₂ nanoparticles by hydrolysis of TiCl₄ using water and glycerol solvent system

The anatase phase TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by precipitation method using TCl₄ as a precursor in a new reaction medium containing water and glycerol. The as-synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-Visible spectroscopy and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). The Raman spectra indicate the formation of crystalline anatase phase TiO₂ NPs after calcination at 300 and 400⁰C. TiO₂ NPs formation was confirmed by observing the major characteristic, FT-IR vibration bands of Ti-O network. The band gap calculated from UV-Vis DRS spectra ranged from 3.02-3.28 eV. FESEM images exhibit spherical shape TiO₂ NPs in the form of nano-clusters with crystallite sizes ranged from 9.5026.14 nm. FESEM images show that as the calcination temperature increases, the sizes of the TiO₂ NPs also increase. The inclusion of glycerol promotes the formation of smaller particles and lowers the band gap of TiO₂ NPs. (paper)