Solvothermal growth of diethylamine capped TiO_2 nanoparticles and functional properties

摘要

Size controlled anatase titanium dioxide (TiO_2) nanoparticles with high surface area were prepared using diethylamine (DEA) as a passivating agent by simple hydrothermal growth. X-ray diffraction pattern revealed the formation of anatase crystal phase of TiO_2. There is no phase transformation for capped and uncapped TiO_2 nanoparticles. Ligand passivation on TiO_2 nanoparticles were confirmed by Fourier transform infra red studies. Significant UV-visible absorption is shown by absorption analysis. Uncapped and DEA capped TiO_2 nanoparticles were synthesized and compared. Monodispersed cubic like morphology of DEA capped TiO_2 nanoparticles with an average size of 13 nm is observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis. TEM analysis confirms that agglomerations were restricted by adding DEA as a capping agent. DEA capped TiO_2 nanoparticles showed surface area of 65 m~2/g and it is higher than uncapped TiO_2 nanoparticles as confirmed by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. Prepared materials can be used as photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cell application.