Low Frequency Raman Spectroscopy of Pure and La Doped TiO2 Nanopowders Synthesized by Sol Gel Method

M. Šćepanovića, S. Aškrabića, M. Grujić-Brojčina, A. Golubovića, Z. Dohčević-Mitrovića, A. Kremenovićb and Z.V. Popovića a Center for Solid State Physics and New Materials, Institute of Physics, Belgrade, Serbia b Faculty of Mining and Geology, Laboratory for Crystallography, University of Belgrade, Serbia

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Pure and La doped titania (TiO2) nanopowders are synthesized by sol gel technology. The crystallite sizes determined by X-ray diffraction measurements range from 10 to 15 nm. Dependence of structural and morphological characteristics of nanopowders on synthesis conditions and La3+ content is investigated by the Raman spectroscopy. Very intensive modes observed in the Raman spectra of all nanopowder samples are assigned to anatase phase of TiO2. Additional Raman modes of extremely low intensity can be related to the presence of a small amount of brookite amorphous phase in nanopowders, which is in accordance with the results of X-ray diffraction analysis. The particle size distribution in TiO2 nanopowders was estimated from the low frequency Raman spectra, using the fact that the phonon modes in nanosized TiO2 observed in the low frequency region (ω < 40 cm-1) can be well described by the elastic continuum model, assuming that nanoparticles are of perfect spherical shape and isotropic. The nanosized particle distribution obtained by this method is used for the calculation of the frequency and shape of the most intensive Eg Raman mode in anatase TiO2 by the phonon confinement model. The calculated broadening of this mode, associated with the particle size distribution, coincides well with the characteristics of Eg mode observed in measured Raman spectra of TiO2 nanopowders. This confirms the Raman spectroscopy method as a powerful tool for determination of particle size distribution in nanosized materials.

DOI: 10.12693/APhysPolA.116.99 PACS numbers: 81.20.Fw, 81.07.Wx, 78.30.-j, 63.22.-m