XRD, Raman and FT-IR spectroscopic observations of nanosized TiO2 synthesized by the sol-gel method based on an esterification reaction

Ti(IV)-isopropoxide was hydrolyzed with water molecules generated "in situ" by an esterification between carboxylic acid and alcohol providing excelle nt control of the hydrolysis and condensation rate. Raman and FT-IR spectra of the TiO2-acetate precursor suggested that the organic ligand is chemica lly bound to the titanium. With heating of the TiO2-acetate precursor up to 320 degrees C, the surface area increased from 3 to 280 m(2) g(-1). The or ganic component completely decomposed above 320 degrees C. With a further i ncrease in temperature, the surface area of the nanocrystalline anatase gra dually decreased. The method of low-frequency Raman scattering was used to determine the particle size in dependence on experimental conditions, and a good agreement was obtained with the crystallite size determination using the Scherrer method. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.