Preparation of Aqueous Dispersion of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles using Plasma on Liquid Surface

A method for preparing an aqueous dispersion of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles by generating plasma on the liquid surface was developed. The plasma was generated between the tip of a needle electrode in the gas phase and the liquid surface. A 0.01 wt % aqueous dispersion of TiO2 was prepared by plasma treatment with ultrasonication. Dynamic light scattering measurements indicated that the average TiO2 nanoparticle sizes in the dispersions with plasma treatment in air and Ar atmosphere were approximately 150 and 180 nm, respectively. Although the pH of the dispersion prepared by Ar plasma treatment was fairly close to the isoelectric point of TiO2, the dispersion maintained a finely dispersed state. The surface potentials of TiO2 nanoparticles in the dispersions treated with plasma were confirmed to be positively charged. This suggests that the dispersions formed by plasma treatment were stabilized by electrostatic repulsion between the particles.