A Novel Mixed Reverse Microemulsion Route for the Synthesis of Nanosized Titania Particles

The main objective of this work was to prepare nanosized titania (TiO2) particles by mixed reverse microemulsion route. In this work titania was prepared by quaternary microemulsion system (water/surfactant/co-surfactant/ oil-phase). Span-80, Aerosol-OT, n-Propanol, Isooctane, and Titanium tetra isopropoxide (TTIP) were used as surfactant, co-surfactant, oil-phase and titania precursor respectively. The effect of water to surfactant ratio (w0) on the size of titania particles was studied. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows the presence of pure Anatase phase with tetragonal crystal structure. The calculation of particle size using scherrer equation shows that the particle size of titania nanoparticles increases with increasing water to surfactant ratio. The TEM image exhibited spherical morphology and narrow size distribution of the nanosized titania particles. The nanoparticles thus prepared can find applications in i.) For gas sensing. ii.) Photo-electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells. iii.) In removing the organic chemicals which occur as pollutants in wastewater effluents.