Optical and Structural Characterization of TiO2 Nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanostructured metal oxides are gradually being interesting for their remarkable properties and mechanical fields. Many methods have been used for the preparation of nanostructured metal oxides. Here we report the synthesis of TiO 2 nanoparticles by anodization method at the same time optical and structural characterization was also conducted. Anodization is an electrolytic passivation process used to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer on the surface of metal parts. Anodization was carried out using a two-electrode configuration. The close packed titanium was attached to a copper rod to form the working electrode. The titanium rod was protected by a non-conductive epoxy in order to avoid being anodized in the electrolyte. A platinum sheet (2.0×1.5cm 2) connected to a copper wire was used as the counter-electrode. Anodization was conducted in 0.5ml HF with (50ml distilled water) and 0.5ml glycerol in (50 ml distilled water) with potentials ranging from (3-10) V for 2 hours at room temperature. Anodization changes the microscopic texture of the surface and changes the crystal structure of the metal near the surface. Ultraviolet-Visible Spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) were carried out to characterize the optical and structural properties of the synthesized samples respectively. Optical absorbance study in the photon wavelength range between 300 and 600 nm reveals that strong absorbance peak is positioned around 423 nm (2.93ev) whereas visible energy band is almost transparent for the materials. Based on X-ray Diffraction, TiO 2 nanparticles grown through anodization are amorphous. Interestingly, very small nanoparticles below 5 nm, have been shown using Stokes-Einstein equation to have unusual structural disorder that can substantially modify the properties of nanoparticles.