Low Temperature Synthesis of Mixed Phase Titania Nanoparticles with High Yield, its Mechanism and Enhanced Photoactivity

A novel process was developed for the synthesis of a mixed phase (constituted of 66% anatase phase) of TiO2 nanoparticles at lower calcination temperature (400 oC) by the sol gel technique using a cost effective and easily available propanol solvent. Stereochemistry of propanol played a crucial role towards crystallographic phase of resultant TiO2nanoparticles where n-propanol gave mixed phase while i-propanol gave pure anatase. A plausible mechanism has been proposed. An effect of crystallographic phase on their photocatalytic activity was studied using degradation of bromophenol blue dye. Th...