Synthesis of Titania nanoparticles using a compact nonequilibrium plasma torch

Abstract

A compact plasma torch has been developed to synthesize titania nanoparticles at atmospheric pressure. It is operated at highvoltage (>700 V) and low-current (<0.4 A) conditions, and its typical discharge power is in the range 200-500 W. Titania nanoparticles were synthesized by oxidizing titanium tetraisopropoxide vapor in the plasma torch. The synthesized titania particles are a mixture of rutile and anatase with a mean crystallite size between 30 and 50 nm. This plasma torch can be used to generate atmospheric nonequilibrium plasmas for facile and environmental friendly synthesis of various nanoparticles. © 2008 The Japan Society of Applied Physics.