Synthesis and characterization of TiO2 nanoparticles: Unraveling the influence of copper doping on structural, surface morphology, and optical properties

Abstract

In this study, we synthesized pristine and Cu-doped TiO2 nanoparticles with varying doping concentrations (0.025 M, 0.05 M, 0.075 M, and 0.1 M) using the co-precipitation method. Characterization of the samples (designated as S1 to S5) was performed using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Raman analysis, UV–Vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Our findings revealed that the nanoparticles possess an anatase phase with a tetragonal crystal structure. FE-SEM imaging displayed spherical nanoparticles with slight agglomeration, while EDX analysis confirmed the absence of impurities. UV–Vis spectroscopy demonstrated reduced TiO2 reflectance and decreased band gap values with increasing Cu concentrations. These synthesized nanoparticles exhibit promising potential for applications as photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and various photocatalytic activities, emphasizing their efficient light harvesting and catalytic performance.

Keywords

• Co- precipitation
• Cu-doped TiO2 nanoparticles
• Optical properties
• Structural properties