Characterization of TiO2–Ag nanocomposite particles prepared by spray pyrolysis process using transmission electron microscopy and three-dimensional electron tomography

TiO2–Ag nanocomposite particles were prepared by spray pyrolysis of TiO2 (7 nm) dispersed AgNO3 solution. The structures and morphologies of powders were carefully characterized by combination of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and three-dimensional electron tomography (3D-ET). It was clearly demonstrated by 3D-ET that the TiO2–Ag nanocomposite particle was consisted of well-dispersed Ag nanoparticles within TiO2 matrix. Furthermore, it was shown by high-resolution TEM that the spray pyrolysis was capable of fabricating Ag particles with a few nm in size.