Impact of Solubilising Matrices for TiCl4 on the Formation of TiO2 Nanoparticles

Abstract

Several nanoparticles (Cu2O, SnO, ZnO) have been intensively studied and applied in wastewater treatment research, with TiO2 gaining popularity because of its stability, affordability, large band gap, recyclability and its efficiency in photocatalysis. This study reports on the influence of solubilising matrices on TiO2 nanoparticle synthesis. A Wet Chemical Method was used to synthesis TiO2 nanoparticles by solubilising TiCl4 in three types of solvents: water, toluene and methylene chloride. Physical, chemical and optical properties of the TiO2 nanoparticles obtained from these various solubilising agents were characterised by XRD, UV-Vis, FTIR and SEM. Results were compared for each solvent with TiO2 nanoparticles solubilised in water having the best properties. Keywords—Titanium Chloride, Titanium Oxide, Nanomaterials, Wet Chemical Method