Effects of Solvent on the Structure and Properties of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Activity

Titanium dioxide is semiconductor metal oxide having many applications in photocatalytic activities, cosmetics and in the food industry. It exists in three major crystalline forms: anatase, rutile and brookite. The solvents play a major role in the synthesis, stability and morphology of the metal oxide nanoparticles. It affects both the phas, and particle size of metal oxide. The main focus of the present study is to establish the effects of solvent on the phase of TiO2 nanoparticle. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles have been synthesized by the sol-gel method using different solvents. The XRD results showed that the average crystallite size of all the samples was in the range of 5-25 nm. TiO2 nanoparticles prepared in different solvents gave different FT-IR peaks. AFM data clarified that the majority of samples showed spherical shape with average particle size ranging from 10-68 nm. The nanoparticles prepared in diethanolamine, acetic acid and propionic acid solvents showed comparatively good antibacterial activity due to the rutile phase of the nanoparticles. the pH of the solvent also influences titanium dioxide structure and antibacterial properties.