Novel Solvothermal Route for the Synthesis of Pure Ultrafine Anatase Nanoparticles

Titanium oxide nanoparticles were synthesized via a solvothermal treatment of titanium isopropoxide in the presence of L-lysine (lysine). The prepared nanostructures characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), diffraction scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Results exhibited that peptization in the absence of the additive led to the non-uniform (from nano to micro size) anatase particles, while well-dispersed anatase nanoparticles were obtained in the small range from titania-lysine precursor. Well-organizing the growth of anatase particles during the calcinations can be attributed to initial amorphous phase of the as-synthesized lysine sample.