Synthesis and Characterization of Titanium Oxide Nanomaterials for Potential Photocatalytic Applications

Abstract

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) has emerged as one of the most promising semiconductor materials because of its remarkable photocatalytic activities, chemical stability, and environmental compatibility. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of the photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ prepared via the sol-gel method, a versatile and cost-effective technique known for producing nanostructured materials with controlled morphology. The structural and chemical characteristics of the prepared TiO₂ samples were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, which provided worthwhile insights into the existence of functional groups, metal oxygen interaction, and the removal of organic residues during calcination. The photocatalytic performance of the synthesized TiO₂ was evaluated under controlled conditions to determine its efficiency in degrading organic pollutants. Results highlight that the sol-gel derived TiO₂ exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity, attributed to its uniform particle size, high surface area, and optimal crystalline phase composition. This comprehensive study demonstrates the strong correlation between synthesis parameters, structural properties, and photocatalytic efficiency, providing useful guidelines for the advancement of TiO₂-based photocatalysts for environmental and energy applications.