Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalysis of Well-Dispersible Phase-Pure Anatase TiO2 Nanoparticles

High-purity anatase TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared using an improved sol-hydrothermal method. The as-prepared sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra. TEM results showed that the average particle size of all TiO2 particles was calculated to be (10 +/- 1) nm. The XRD analysis indicated that the present sample was fully crystallized and appeared to be highly phase-pure anatase. The BET analysis showed that the as-prepared sample had a very large specific surface area of 186.25 m(2)/g. The photocatalytic performance of TiO2 nanoparticles was evaluated by photocatalytic degradation of X-3B and X-BR solutions. The degradation results revealed that the as-prepared TiO2 showed slightly higher photocatalytic activities than P25. Whereas, the as-synthesized TiO2 can settle down and be separated easily after the photocatalytic reaction finishes.