Synthesis and characterization of titania-sugar alcohol complex nanoparticles

Abstract

Complexes between TiO2 and sugar alcohol molecules or polyol molecules were prepared by heating the mixture of titanium isopropoxide (TIP) and ethylene glycol, glycerin, meso-erythritol, or D-mannitol aqueous solution at 368 K for 24 h. The degree of crystallization of TiO2 in the obtained TiO2-sugar alcohol or polyol complex depended on the concentration of the polyol and sugar alcohol aqueous solution. When the TiO2-sugar alcohol or polyol complex was prepared by using the same concentration of the sugar alcohol or polyol aqueous solution, the degree of crystallization of the TiO2 in the complex decreased with increase in the number of OH groups per molecule. According to the results of the DTA measurements and the element analysis, the strength of the interaction between Ti4+ ions and polyol or sugar alcohol molecules increased with increases in the number of OH groups in the molecules. The heat treatment of TiO2-D-mannitol complex in 0.5 mol/1 HNO3 aqueous solution at more than 318 K enabled to obtain TiO2-D-mannitol complex nanoparticles by breaking the bonds between the D-mannitol molecules and Ti 4+ ions. The obtained TiO2-D-mannitol complex nanoparticles had large surface area which was more than 300 m2/g and showed photoeatalytic activity. Furthermore, the complex nanoparticles can be dispersed into the distilled water with high stability.