Hydrothermal Synthesis of Titanium Dioxide Thin Films via Two Solution Preparation Methods and Investigation of Temperature Effects on Structural Properties for Photoanode Application

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Condensed Matter and Nanophysics Group, Faculty of Physics, Shahrood University of Technology, Shahrood, Iran

10.22128/ijcm.2026.3166.1021

Abstract

In this study, nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films were synthesized via the hydrothermal method using titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) precursor under different solution conditions at temperatures of 100, 115, and 130°C. The aim was to investigate the temperature effect on the films' structural, morphological, and optical properties. The results showed that the obtained samples were predominantly formed in the rutile phase, and increasing the temperature up to 130°C led to a reduction in the intensity of the (110) plane, a decrease in crystallite size, and the formation of clustered nanosphere structures with higher porosity, accompanied by increased optical transmittance and reduced absorption. In the second solution preparation method, increasing the temperature up to 115°C resulted in crystallite growth along the (101) plane of the anatase phase and the formation of denser structures. These findings demonstrate the significant role of temperature in controlling the microstructure and performance of TiO2 photoanodes.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Crystallography and Mineralogy
Volume 34, Issue 3 - Serial Number 103
September 2026
Pages 507-516

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History

  • Receive Date: 15 February 2026
  • Revise Date: 14 March 2026
  • Accept Date: 15 April 2026

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