Preparation and Characterization of Nanocrystalline Titanium Dioxide with a Surfactant-mediated Method

Using a surfactant-mediated method, nanocrystalline titanium dioxide with a high BET surface area was generated within the template of the nonionic surfactant micelle assembly from the anhydrous metal chloride, TiCl4. The results indicate that the block copolymer can control the particle size and inhibit the agglomeration of anatase titanium dioxide in the calcining process, and simultaneously enhance phase transformation from amorphous titanium dioxide to anatase phase. The pore diameter and the BET surface area of the material, evaluated from the N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm, indicate average pore diameter of about 6.6 nm, and BET surface area about 115.04 m2/g for calcination at 400°C. The resulting particles were highly crystalline and largely monodisperse oxide particles in the nanometer range of 18-22 nm.