Preparation of TiO2 nanoparticles in glycerol-containing solutions

TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared from titanium isopropoxide by using a new solvent system containing glycerol. The particle size by scanning electron microscopy was in the range of 4-10 nm. The X-ray diffraction data revealed that the nanoparticles possess mostly a tetragonal crystal structure of anatase. The absorption of the tetrahedral titanium species at 280 nut on UV spectra exhibited the quantum size effect of the nanoparticles. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.