Microwave-assisted rapid synthesis of anatase TiO2 nanosized particles in an ionic liquid-water system

Abstract

Nanosized anatase TiO2 crystals were rapidly prepared in a mixture of an ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride) and water under microwave irradiation for 5min. The crystal size in the c axis was varied in the range from ∼5 to ∼17nm with prolongation of the irradiation time. A high susceptibility of the ionic liquid to microwave and a catalytic property of the imidazolium cation are effective for the rapid synthesis of the highly crystalline nanosized particles.