Nano-TiO2 Particles Produced in a Vapour-Fed Aerosol Flame Reactor

Nanoparticles of titanium dioxide were produced in a vapour-fed aerosol flame reactor by feeding ethanol solutions of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) in a premixed laminar flame of ethylene and air. The synthesized samples was characterized by Differential Mobility Analizer (DMA), Raman scattering, UV-Visible absorption and Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. As-prepared nanoparticles appeared to be pure anatase crystallite of 1.7-3.1 nm in diameter, depending on TTIP concentration in the precursor solution. Optical band gap value of TiO2 particles was calculated to be 3.15 eV, and photoluminescence in the ultra-violet region, extending also to the visible spectral region, was observed.