Synthesis of nanocrystalline titanium dioxide using refluxed aqueous peroxy titanium complex solution

A pure-phase anatase nanocrystalline TiO₂ has been prepared at lower temperatures from aqueous peroxy titanium complex solution using titanium (III) chloride as precursor. The study on the reflux method has been carried out to investigate the effect of refluxing conditions on the characteristic properties of TiO₂ and it has shown significant effects on the final product. The X-ray diffraction and UV-vis characterisations reveal that as refluxing time extended, the crystallite size increased and variation is found in bandgap energies. This is attributed to the effect of refluxing during the synthesis of nanocrystalline TiO₂. A detailed study on the reflux method used for the synthesis of nanocrystalline TiO₂ is reported.