Synthesis and particle size effect on the phase transformation of nanocrystalline TiO2

Nanocrystalline TiO2 powders were obtained by the solvothermal route from the Ti(OR)4 precursor precipitated in toluene under different concentrations. The prepared titania is in the form of nanocrystalline anatase with different sizes dependent on the precursor concentrations. Average particle size is about 10 nm and 20 nm for contents of precursor below 10 mol% and above 50 mol%, respectively. TiO2 nanoparticles tend to agglomerate to form sphere balls from the solutions of above 20 mol% concentration. Dependence of particle size on the anatase–rutile phase transformation was investigated by XRD study. Morphology of titania particles depending on annealing temperature was also investigated using scanning electron microscopy.