Effect of different fuels on surface morphology and microstructure of TiO 2 –(Ti 0.98 Si 0.2 )O 2 composite nanoparticles

Rutile and anatase microcrystalline composites TiO 2 –(Ti 0.98 Si 0.2 )O 2 were successfully synthesized by auto-combustion method using urea, citric acid/nitric acid=0.6 and citric acid/nitric acid=1.2 as fuel. The prepared powders were characterized using optical and surface analysis methods. From the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns the rutile phase of the composite formed by one-step calcination. Micro size distribution function, surface morphology and electrical properties of powders were studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis). The particle size distributions of composites were measured by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). From UV–vis spectra the quantum confinement effect is observed because the optical band gap of powders has a blue shift.