Synthesis of nanocrystalline titania by hydrothermal method using cetyl pyridinium chloride as a template and its catalytic applications

Abstract

Nano crystalline titanium dioxide predominantly in the anatase phase has been synthesized from titanium isopropoxide by dispersion technique using hydrothermal synthesis method in water-ethanol system. The material was characterized for its structural and textural properties using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), TG-DTA, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by low temperature N2 adsorption at 77K. Both TEM and XRD data reveal a uniform and nanocrystalline TiO2 particles of 8 and 14 nm for the as synthesized and calcined samples respectively. The calcined sample showed photo catalytic activity in the decomposition of methylene blue in aqueous medium under both UV and visible light region. The results are compared with degussa P-25 TiO2 sample.