Effect of Temperature on Structure, Morphology, and Optical Properties of TiO2 Nanoparticles

Abstract

This paper reports synthesis of pure and mixed-phase TiO2 nanopar?cles using a solgel technique with ?tanium isopropoxide as a precursor. The prepared samples were then calcined at different temperatures. Varia?on in calcina?on temperature has been analyzed on par?cle size and crystalline phases, morphology, bandgap, and crystallinity using X-Ray Diffrac?on (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), and UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis, respec?vely. Moreover, XRD data reveal anatase and ru?le phases of TiO2 depending on the calcina?on temperature. From this, one may observe that the calcina?on temperature greatly influences the presence of anatase and ru?le phases of TiO2. It can change the phase from the metastable anatase phase to the stable ru?le phase. Also, increasing the calcina?on temperature can increase the par?cle size as es?mated by the Scherrer equa?on, which was found to be 7 nm to 60 nm with a temperature from 400 ◦C to 1200 ◦C. SEM analysis shows the growth of spherical-shaped nanoclusters with irregular morphology, whereas EDX spectroscopic analysis confirms the purity of the samples. It has been observed that increasing the temperature reduces the bandgap through UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis. The photocataly?c degrada?on of Phenol Red was studied by using synthesized anatase TiO2 nanopar?cles.