Effects of reaction medium on the synthesis of TiO2 nanocrystals by thermal decomposition of titanium (IV) n-butoxide

Thermal decomposition of titanium (IV) n-butoxide (TNB) in organic solvents yields nanosized anatase titania without the contamination of other phases. The formation of anatase titania crystals and their phase transformation are investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, BET techniques. It is suggested that anatase titania synthesized in 1,4-butanediol is the result from direct crystallization while titania synthesized in toluene is transformed from precipitated amorphous intermediate. Thermal stability of products investigated by calcination at various temperatures and photocatalytic activity evaluated from ethylene decomposition reaction suggest that amount of defect structures in titania synthesized depends upon the solvent used.