Structure and photoluminescence properties of TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized from a novel luminescent nano-titanium complex

Abstract

A new titanium complex [Ti(Me–Q)₂(Cl)₂] (1) is prepared by reacting titanium tetrachloride with 2-methyl-8-hydroxyquinoline in a fast and facile process. The complex is fully characterized based on its ¹H and ¹³C NMR, IR, and UV spectra and elemental analysis. The prepared nanostructured compound is synthesized by the sonochemical method. This new nanostructure is characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Thermal stability of single crystalline and nanosize samples of the prepared compound is studied by thermal gravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The prepared complexes both bulk and nanosized are utilized as a precursor for the preparation of TiO₂ nanoparticles by direct thermal decomposition at 600°C in air. The morphology and size of TiO₂ nanoparticles are determined by SEM, powder XRD, and IR spectroscopy and the results show that the TiO₂ nanoparticle size depends on the initial particle size of 1. Photoluminescence (PL) properties of the nanostructured and crystalline bulk prepared complex and their TiO₂ nanoparticle cores are investigated.