Title: Synthesis and characterisation of TiO₂ nanostructures for photocatalytic applications

Authors: Kamel Atamnia; Hamid Satha; Mohamed Bououdina

Addresses: Département de Génie des Procédés,Faculté de Technologie, Université de Jijel, Algeria; Laboratoire des Silicates, Polymères et des Nanocomposites, Université de Guelma, Algeria ' Laboratoire des Silicates, Polymères et des Nanocomposites, Université de Guelma, Algeria ' Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Bahrain, P.O. Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain

Abstract: Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles and thin films were successfully prepared by sol-gel method using Titanium tetraisopropoxide (Ti(OCH(CH₃)₂)₄) as precursor and tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) as structuring agent, while varying TIPT:TMAOH ratio (2:1 and 2:2). X-ray diffraction analysis confirms the formation of nanocrystalline anatase phase after crystallisation starting from 300°C, and that the crystallite size increases with temperature due to grain growth. Both Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses confirm the formation of anatase phase. The optimised results were achieved by using the molar ratio C = Ti/TMAOH = 2/2, namely a perfectly crystallised and monodispersed material from the temperature 400°C and allows the obtaining thin films transparent to visible light and ultraviolet irradiation. A photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ films was implemented by photodegradation of methylene blue under ultraviolet irradiation. The thin films calcined at the temperature of 400°C display the highest photocatalytic activity.

Keywords: titania; precursor; anatase; nanostructures; structuring agent; tetramethylammonium hydroxide; TMAOH; monodispersed nanoparticles; photocatalytic.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNP.2018.094048

International Journal of Nanoparticles, 2018 Vol.10 No.3, pp.225 - 243

Received: 26 Mar 2018
Accepted: 23 Apr 2018
Published online: 13 Aug 2018 *

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