Synthesis and microstructural control of nanocrystalline titania powders via a stearic acid method

Nanocrystalline titania powders doped with alumina with good dispersity were prepared by a novel method, the so-called stearic acid method (SAM). The preparative process was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The influence of the alumina dopant concentration on the microstructure of resulting TiO2 powder was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Compared with the conventional sol-gel technique, SAM is faster and convenient, and can be used to prepare various mixed metal oxides.