Role of the Structure of TiO₂ Nanoparticles Synthesized by a Sol-Gel Reactor With Ultra-Rapid Micromixing on Photocatalytic Properties

Abstract

TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared via sol-gel method using a chemical reactor with ultra-rapid micromixing. The as-formed nanoparticles atomic structure was characterized using the pair distribution function method and compared to the structure of several titanium oxide based compounds (anatase, rutile, brookite, Ti-lepidocrocite-type). The best agreement was obtained with the Ti-lepidocrocite-type structure. Connection between photocatalytic properties and atomic structure of the nanoparticles was discussed.