Synthesis and characterization of photosensitive TiO2 nanorods by controlled precipitation route

• Published in: Journal of materials science 2011-04, Vol.46 (7), p.2288-2293
• Main Authors: Dubal, D. P., Dhawale, D. S., More, A. M., Lokhande, C. D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; Annealing; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Contact angle; Crystallography and Scattering Methods; Doppler effect; Electron micrographs; Fourier transforms; Grain size; Infrared spectroscopy; Materials Science; Nanorods; Optical properties; Photoelectrochemical devices; Photosensitivity; Polymer Sciences; Red shift; Scanning electron microscopy; Sodium hydroxide; Solid Mechanics; Substrates; Thin films; Titanium dioxide; Wettability; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0022-2461; 1573-4803
• DOI: 10.1007/s10853-010-5070-7

Nanocrystalline TiO 2 thin films have been successfully synthesized by controlled precipitation route. These films are further annealed at 623 K for 2 h. The change in structural, morphological, optical, and wettability properties are studied by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical absorption, and contact angle measurement. From the XRD pattern it is clear that the as-grown TiO 2 films are amorphous in nature which becomes polycrystalline after annealing. The FTIR study reveals the formation of TiO 2 compound. Scanning electron micrographs shows that the as-grown TiO 2 film consists of agglomerated nanograins well covered to the substrate surface which gets converted into vertical nanorods after annealing. As-deposited and annealed TiO 2 films showed hydrophilic behavior as water contact angles were 24° and 32°, respectively. The optical absorption study reveals the small red shift due to annealing and attributed to grain size. The annealed TiO 2 film showed conversion efficiency of 0.037% in photoelectrochemical cell with 1 M NaOH electrolyte.