Low-temperature nucleation of rutile observed by Raman Spectroscopy during crystallization of TiO2.

The thermal evolution of amorphous TiO2 powders, consisting of spherical particles and prepared by hydrolysis of a titanium ethoxide aerosol, was studied by using Raman spectroscopy. On calcination at 350°C, the solid crystallized, giving anatase as a major phase. A small amount of rutile was also detected and attributed to small seeds localized at the particle outlayer. The nucleation of rutile at so low a temperature was ascribed to the presence of organic impurities in the powders. The transformation of anatase into rutile was clearly observed after heating at 660°C. © 1992Peer Reviewe