Duplex Nanostructured TiO2 Powder

Titanium dioxide (TiO2), is an attractive candidate material for a host of applications due to its exceptional properties, including high photocatalytic activity, hydrophilicity, stability, non-toxicity, and low cost [1]. Many techniques have been used to synthesize nanostructured TiO2-based powders, such as flame synthesis, sol-gel, laser ablation, and various wet chemical methods. More recently, the laser ablation method has received attention, because of the ability to precisely control particle size and distribution, as well as enabling easy collection of as synthesized nanoparticles [2]. In this paper, we describe the utilization of an Nd:YAG pulse laser, with 532-nm wavelength, and maximum pulse intensity of 500 mJ, to induce controlled and reproducible decomposition of metalorganic precursors, with and without selective inorganic additives, in order to generate a new class of duplex nanostructured TiO2 powders. Here we describe preliminary results obtained by Laser Induced Precursor Pyrolysis (LIPP) of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP).