Synthesis and characterization of TiO2 nanoparticles: Unraveling the influence of copper doping on structural, surface morphology, and optical properties

In this study, we synthesized pristine and Cu-doped TiO2 nanoparticles with varying doping concentrations (0.025 M, 0.05 M, 0.075 M, and 0.1 M) using the co-precipitation method. Characterization of the samples (designated as S1 to S5) was performed using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Raman analysis, UV-Vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Our findings revealed that the nanoparticles possess an anatase phase with a tetragonal crystal structure. FE-SEM imaging displayed spherical nanoparticles with slight agglomeration, while EDX analysis confirmed the absence of impurities. UV-Vis spectroscopy demonstrated reduced TiO2 reflectance and decreased band gap values with increasing Cu concentrations. These synthesized nanoparticles exhibit promising potential for applications as photoanodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and various photocatalytic activities, emphasizing their efficient light harvesting and catalytic performance.