MORPHOLOGY AND CRYSTALLIZATION BEHAVIOR OF SOL-GEL-DERIVED TITANIA

TiO2 sols were prepared by hydrolysis of titanium ethoxide, The sols w ere exposed for several days at room temperature to atmospheres of dif ferent humidity in order to study its influence during aging of sols o n rutile formation, morphology, and crystal structure. Exposure of sol s to high relative humidity resulted in nonagglomerated TiO2 powders w ith a rutile structure. TiO2 gels obtained from sols aged at low relat ive humidity were composed of gel fragments with a poorly crystallized anatase structure.