Characterization and comparison of titanium dioxide nanoparticles prepared by microwave and pulse laser ablation liquid methods

This study synthesized titanium dioxide (TiO2) quickly and cheaply using microwaves and pulsed laser ablation. Titanium isopropoxide (Ti[OCH(CH3)2]4) was the precursor and deionized water (DIW) was the solvent and reducer for sub-micrometer particle production in microwave technique. TiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized in pulsed laser ablation liquid medium after a 5-minute preparation period in a 1200 W commercial microwave and a 1-hour annealing at 400°C. A Q-switched Nd:YAG laser with 480 mJ energy per pulse was used for 100, 200, and 300 pulses. Multiple methods, including XRD, BET, and EDX. XRD showed anatase TiO2 in microwave-synthesised nanoparticles. Pulsed laser ablation produced pure TiO2 nanoparticles with a brookite crystalline structure. In microwave BET analysis, TiO2 has a large surface area of 72.727 to 108.28 m2/g. BET analysis indicated 82.44 to 98.67 m2/g of TiO2 surface area by pulsed laser ablation. Strong titanium (Ti) and oxygen (O) peaks in microwave and pulsed laser ablation EDX tests showed nanoparticle purity.