Controlled synthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in a modified diffusion flame reactor

Abstract Titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles were synthesized by the oxidation of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl 4 ) in a modified diffusion flame reactor. The reactor utilized a multiport diffusion type burner composed of 5 concentric tubes. The flame configuration was (Ar + TiCl 4 )/Ar/H 2 /O 2 /air producing several tens of grams of TiO 2 nanoparticles per hour. Flame characteristics of the diffusion flame at the modified burner outlet were investigated. TiCl 4 concentration and flow rates of combustion gases such as oxygen, hydrogen and air were chosen as key experimental variables for the control of the particle size and phase composition. TiO 2 nanoparticles ranged from 10 to 30 nm in average particle diameter, and the mass fraction of anatase synthesized was 40 to 80% in all experiments.