Microwave-Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis of Brookite Nanoparticles from a Water-Soluble Titanium Complex and Their Photocatalytic Activity

Nanoparticles of brookite titanium oxide were prepared by microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MH) method at 200°C (heating time 5 min) for 0-60 minutes starting from the titanium peroxo glycolate complex in basic solution. The effect of microwave heating on the morphology of the brookite particles was examined. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that all powders were composed of single phase brookite and contained two different types of particles. The activity in photodecomposition of oxalic acid by the samples prepared using MH method was higher than activities of brookite nanoparticles synthesized by the conventional hydrothermal method.