A method for large-scale synthesis of Al-doped TiO2 nanopowder using pulse-modulated induction thermal plasmas with time-controlled feedstock feeding

A unique method of large-scale synthesis of Al-doped TiO2 nanopowder was developed, using 20 kW Ar–O2 pulse-modulated induction thermal plasmas (PMITP) with time-controlled feedstock feeding (TCFF). This PMITP–TCFF method is characterized by intermittent feedstock powder feeding synchronized with modulation of the power of the PMITP. The method enables heavy-load feeding of raw material powder to the thermal plasmas for complete evaporation. The nanopowder synthesized was analysed using different methods including field emission scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy, bright-field transmission electron microscopy (TEM), TEM/energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) mapping, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and spectrophotometry. The results showed that Al-doped TiO2 nanopowder can be synthesized with mean diameters of 50–60 nm. The Al doping in TiO2 was confirmed from the constituent structure in the XRD spectra, the uniform presence of Al in the nanopowder in the TEM/EDX mapping, the chemical shift in the x-ray photoelectron spectra, and the absorption edge shift in the optical properties. The rate of production of the Al-doped TiO2 nanopowder was estimated as 400 g h−1. (paper)