Characterization of Zr-doped TiO2 prepared by homogenous co-precipitation without high-temperature treatment

Zr-doped TiO2 (anatase) was prepared by the homogenous co-precipitation method of the aqueous solutions containing TiOSO4 and ZrCl4 using urea as the precipitation agent. Nanocrystallites of Zr-doped TiO2, 6–9 nm in size, intergrown with amorphous phase form 1–2 μm porous spherical clusters. Crystallite size of anatase decreases with increasing Zr content, and the catalyst becomes totally amorphous at 10 mol.% Zr. All samples exhibit high specific surface area, which increases with the addition of zirconium (from 391.3 to 689.1 m2 g−1).