Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Pure nanophased TiO2 with controlled microstructure and resistant to thermal induced grain growth has been prepared by hydrothermal treatments. The synthesized nano-TiO2 presents small size and well defined and faceted surface, as shown by Raman spectroscopy, XRD, EELS and HRTEM. Such performances are slightly changed with the posterior temperature treatments up to 700 °C, maintaining anatase phase structure and grain size about 20nm. The extent of stabilization depended on the pH of the treatment, being pH 2 more convenient for stabilizing the size, and pH 3 for the phase. HRTEM and EELS measurements showed the coexistence of rutile big particles (∼100 nm) with anatase small particles (∼40 nm) at pH 3 and calcination at 900°C. Thick-films of precipitated TiO2 and hydrothermally treated TiO2 were tested for the CO and the ethanol response. The hydrothermal treatment allowed obtaining stable sensitive films which exhibited enlarged sensor response and improved transients, specially in the case of the materials treated at pH 3.