Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

Abstract

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles were produced in this work by laser ablation of a high purity titanium objective immersed in distilled water. Optical and structural properties of the obtained TiO₂ NPs using a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser of 1064nm wavelength with different laser energy (80, 100, 120, 140, and 160) mJ at 100 pulses was studied. The produced TiO₂ NPs were characterized employing UV-VIS Spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The obtained TiO₂NPs showed a decrease in transmittance in the region of the UV spectrum and an increase in the visible spectrum region. The estimated optical band gap of the TiO₂NPs was 3.89eV, 3.8eV, and 3.70eV at 80, 120 and 160mJ laser energy, respectively. The as-produced TiO₂NPs appear to be a Brookite crystalline phase with the preferential orientation along (200) direction. The scanning electron microscopy assays showed that the TiO₂ NPs have a cauliflower shape. Results show that with increasing the energy of laser pulse, the size of nanoparticles was increased noticeably. Where the particle size and its morphology are affected by laser energy.