Highly-Pure Titanium Dioxide nanopowders Synthesized by Eco-Friendly Solvothermal Method

Abstract

In this study, titanium dioxide nanopowders were synthesized by solvothermal method using banana peels as a source for plant extract and titanium isopropoxide as a precursor. The structural characteristics confirmed that the synthesized nanopowders have tetragonal crystalline structure containing both anatase and rutile phases of titanium dioxide. These nanopowders showed high structural purity as no materials other than titanium dioxide was found according to the x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. As well, no elements other than titanium and oxygen were found according to the energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The minimum particle size in the synthesized samples was 53.48nm. The spectroscopic characteristics showed that the prepared nanopowders have reasonable absorption in the UV region of electromagnetic spectrum (<375nm) and very low absorption in the visible region. The solvothermal method used in this work can be described by low complexity, simple assembly, low cost and high purity production.