From TiCl3 to TiO2 nanoparticles (anatase, brookite and rutile): Thermohydrolysis and oxidation in aqueous medium

Abstract Titania nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrolysis and oxidation of titanium trichloride (TiCl 3 ) in aqueous medium. The TiO 2 synthesis via the hydrolysis of Ti(III) proceeds in two steps: a condensation step and an oxidation step, which can be separated or simultaneous and they could take place in both orders. The importance of the medium acidity (0.5 3 hydrolysis allowed the synthesis of non-usual morphologies of TiO 2 nanoparticles, especially rods of anatase, small square platelets (3 nm) of rutile.