Synthesis and characterization of Titanium dioxide nanopowder for various energy and environmental applications

Abstract Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized by sol-gel route using Titanium Tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) as the precursor. The synthesized product was characterized by using powder X-Ray diffraction. The X-Ray diffraction pattern of TiO2 nanoparticles with 2 peaks at 25.4° indicates the presence of pure crystalline Anatase phase of TiO2. The microstructure and phase composition were analyzed by High resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (HRSEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDX). The morphology of the as synthesized nanoparticles was spherical in shape with strong agglomeration. Sample shows spherical uniform morphology in the form of TiO2 nano clusters as revealed in HRSEM analysis. EDX spectra revealed the presence of stoichiometric proportion of Ti and O elements without extra signals which affirms the pure phase of antase TiO2. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy spectra (FTIR) analysis showed the Ti-O stretching vibration bonds which illustrate the absorption spectra of TiO2 nanoparticles (around 3426 cm−1) which indicate the presence of hydroxyl group with stretched bonds. Ultraviolet visible spectra analysis with Tauc plot illustrates the optical properties and facilitates to determine the band gap energy (Eg) of the synthesized TiO2 nanomaterials which comes out to be 3.025 (eV). The band gap increases with the decrease in the particle size. Smaller crystallite size will have larger band gap and larger crystallite size will have smaller band gap. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) Nanoparticles has increased significant consideration in the energy/vitality and other ecological divisions due to their splendid prospects in photocatalysis, dye sensitized solar cells, natural contamination treatment and its utilization in sun powered water partition for the generation of hydrogen.