Synthesis and microstructural control of nanocrystalline titania powders via a stearic acid method

Abstract Nanocrystalline titania powders doped with alumina with good dispersity were prepared by a novel method, the so-called stearic acid method (SAM). The preparative process was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The influence of the alumina dopant concentration on the microstructure of resulting TiO 2 powder was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Compared with the conventional sol-gel technique, SAM is faster and convenient, and can be used to prepare various mixed metal oxides.