Green Synthesis snd Characterization of Titanium (IV) Oxide Nanoparticles: Effects of Solution pH, Temperature and Metallic Ag Particles

Abstract

A facile green route for the synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles using titanium(IV) isopropoxide precursor and aqueous extract of Plumeria acuminata leaves is reported. The effects of solution pH and calcination temperature on grain size and TiO2 phase type were investigated. Additionally, different concentrations of Ag in the range of 0.05 M - 0.2 M were incorporated onto the lattice layer of TiO2 via a wet-impregnation hydrothermal method to obtain Ag doped Ti02. The synthesized nanomaterials were characterized by HRSEM, BET and XRD. The HRSEM micrograph revealed the presence of well dispersed and distinct aggregated spherical particles of Ti02 and Ag-TiO2, The XRD pattern demonstrated the formation of purely body-centred tetragonal Ti02 anatase phase only at solution pH (3) and calcination temperature 400°C with an average size of 8.2 nm. The optimum concentration of Ag incorporated onto the TiO2 lattice layer was 0.1 M and the doping effect of metallic Ag did not distort the TiO2 phase however responsible for particle size reduction to 7.1 nm. The BET analysis showed that Ag doped TiO2 nanoparticles exhibited higher surface area (85.97 m/g) than the bare TiO2 nanoparticles with surface area of 65.00 m /g. The study revealed that Ag concentration, solution pH, the calcination temperature played an important role on the morphology and the phase type of as-prepared TiO2 nanoparticles.