Synthesis of nanocrystalline anatase TiO2 by microwave hydrothermal method

Nanocrystalline titanium dioxide in the anatase phase has been obtained using urea and TiOCl2 by microwave hydrothermal method. A mixture of urea and TiOCl2 in 5: 1 molar ratio is processed in a microwave hydrothermal autoclave for 3 min to precipitate anatase powders. X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies on these oven-dried powders indicated the formation of single phase anatase. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations revealed the average particle size of these powders to be 10 nm. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.