Modification of TiO<inf>2</inf> nanoparticles through lanthanum doping and PEG templating

Abstract

Pure and lanthanum doped titania nanopowders were synthesized through a room temperature sol-gel method using a template of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The progress of the synthesis in terms of phase formation and size of nanoparticles was monitored by X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy and SEM analysis. After calcination at 450 °C in air, the results have shown the presence of small particles crystallized predominantly in the form of anatase phase, with significant agglomeration. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements confirmed that all prepared powders are mesoporous with an average pore diameter in range 3.1-3.8 nm. The addition of lanthanum ions leads to the nanopowders with the highest specific surface (BET) area (203 m2/g). The obtained powders were compared to TiO2 prepared without a template.