Low temperature synthesis and characterization of porous anatase TiO2 nanoparticles.

An ethanol solution of Ti-peroxy compounds was prepared from the ethanol solution of titanium isopropoxide (Ti(O-iPr)4) and H2O2. Heating of the ethanol solution of the Ti-peroxy compounds at 348 K formed a Ti-peroxy gel, and heat treatment of the gel at 348 K for more than 6 h formed gels that consisted of anatase nanoparticles. The diameter of the anatase nanoparticles increased from 9 to 15 nm as the heating time increased from 6 to 48 h. According to the results of the N2 adsorption measurement, the anatase nanoparticles had micropores, and the specific surface area (SBET) was in the range of 254 to 438 m2/g. The particle size, lattice strain, specific surface area, and photocatalytic activity of the anatase nanoparticles can be regulated by the heating time of the Ti-peroxy gel at 348 K.