Plasma-Assisted Synthesis of TiO2 Nanorods by Gliding Arc Discharge Processing at Atmospheric Pressure for Photocatalytic Applications

• Published in: Plasma chemistry and plasma processing Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 725 - 735
• Main Authors: Acayanka, E., Tiya Djowe, A., Laminsi, S., Tchoumkwé, C. C., Nzali, S., Poupi Mbouopda, A., Ndifon, P. T., Gaigneaux, E. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.08.2013
• Subjects: Atmospheric pressure; Barometric pressure; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Classical Mechanics; Gliding; Inorganic Chemistry; Mechanical Engineering; Nanorods; Nanostructure; Original Paper; Spectroscopy; Synthesis; Titanium dioxide; Gliding arc discharge; Non-thermal plasma; Titanium dioxide; Photocatalyst; Nanorods
• ISSN: 0272-4324; 1572-8986
• DOI: 10.1007/s11090-013-9455-7

The present study explores a new method of synthesis of TiO 2 nano-particles in an aqueous medium from TiCl 3 precursor by non-thermal plasma in humid air as feeding gas obtained at atmospheric pressure. The precursor solution, TiCl 3 is oxidized by strongly reactive species generated by gliding arc plasma (HO ·  = 2.85 V/SHE) to produce titanium oxide powders. The synthesized powder was characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, nitrogen physisorption, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The results obtained showed that the material consists of rod-shaped nanoparticles of rutile and anatase phases. The presence of TiO 2 phases was confirmed by FTIR spectrum and textural analyses showed that the material is mesoporous with specific surface area of 158 m 2  g −1 . UV–Visible spectrum of the plasma-synthesized TiO 2 sample showed that it absorbs in the UV–A region leading to effective use as a photocatalyst under visible light.