Synthesis and Characterization of Rutile Nanocrystals Prepared in Aqueous Media at Low Temperature

Rutile powder was synthesized via sol-gel processing of Tyzor TE precursor in an aqueous solution at 40 degrees C-50 degrees C. A suite of characterization techniques, including FTIR, Raman, X-ray, and electron diffraction, were employed to investigate the microstructural evolution. The synthesized powder was phase-pure rutile possessing high surface area (144.7 m(2)/g), an average pore size of 24.9 nm, and pore volume of 0.66 cm(3)/g. A reaction mechanism is proposed for the preferential evolution of rutile over other titania polymorphs (i.e. amorphous or anatase).