Thermo analytical study of phase transformation of TiO₂ nanoparticles prepared using mono and di α-hydroxy acid water-soluble precursor by hydrothermal technique

ABSTRACT

In this article, the isoconversional crystallization behavior of TiO₂ nanoparticles prepared using titanium glycolate and titanium malate water-soluble precursors at alkaline and acidic conditions was investigated. Thermal decomposition experiments were carried out using thermo gravimetric (TG) analysis and the phase structure was determined by powdered X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. The phase stability of the TiO₂ NPs prepared using titanium malate complex was found to be better than that prepared using titanium glycolate water-soluble complex, especially in terms of loss in weight per cent and decomposition analysis. Apparent activation energies were also determined for both the samples prepared at pH 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. These results showed the ability of primary and secondary nucleation in shifting decomposition temperature that in turn increases the phase transformation temperature, by minimizing the energy through fraction reacted required to reach the crystalline state.

KEYWORDS:

• X-ray diffraction
• titanium oxide
• thermal stability
• activation energy
• iso-conversion

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).