Synthesis of Photocatalytic Titanium Dioxide Nanopowders Using Different Acid Catalysers

Photocatalytic titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles were synthesized via acid assisted sol-gel process. The effects of different acids namely; acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, and nitric acid on the formation of TiO2 nanoparticles and their photocatalytic properties were investigated. XRD, SEM, and UV-Vis spectrophotometer analyses were performed to examine the physical and chemical characteristics of the nano powders. The results showed that only anatase phase of TiO2nanoparticleswith different crystallite size and morphology weresynthesized with respect tothe kinds of acid and the procedure applied. The TiO2 powder synthesized from HCl exhibited highest photocatalytic activity, and its methylene blue photodegradation efficiency was 98.1% in 90 minUV irradiation. Index of Terms: TiO2 powder, Photocatalytic activity, Sol-gel process, Acid effect