Preparation of anatase powders from fluorine-complexed titanium(iv) aqueous solution using microwave irradiation

The microwave radiation activated precipitation of titanium dioxide from homogeneous aqueous solutions of titanium–fluoro complexes and boric acid has been carried out in batch reactors. Crystalline anatase powders with narrow monodisperse size distribution have been obtained in a short time, at low temperature and atmospheric pressure. Microwave power, irradiation time and precursor concentration determine the properties of the obtained materials, i.e. crystal size, powder aggregate morphology and BET surface area. The obtained materials do not show photocatalytic activity, probably due to a considerable fluoride content that is in the range of 2–5%.