A New Method for the Synthesis of TiO2/C Composites with the Use of Titanium Organic Compounds

Abstract

Anatase titania based TiO₂/С nanocomposites have been synthesized via the thermal decomposition of titanium glycerolate prepared by the reaction between glycerin and tetraethoxytitanium or tetrabutoxytitanium. The content of carbon in the composite material is from 22.3 to 23.5 wt %. The principal physicochemical characteristics of the synthesized compounds have been determined by X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis, IR and Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It has been found that the textural and morphological features of the TiO₂/C nanocomposites are governed by the type of titanium alkoxide used to synthesize the precursor, i.e., titanium glycerolate.