Modification of TiO2 nanoparticles through lanthanum doping and peg templating

Pure and lanthanum doped titania nanopowders were synthesized through a room temperature sol-gel method using a template of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The progress of the synthesis in terms of phase formation and size of nanoparticles was monitored by X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy and SEM analysis. After calcination at 450 °C in air, the results have shown the presence of small particles crystallized predominantly in the form of anatase phase, with significant agglomeration. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements confirmed that all prepared powders are mesoporous with an average pore diameter in range 3.1–3.8 nm. The addition of lanthanum ions leads to the nanopowders with the highest specific surface (BET) area (203 m2/g). The obtained powders were compared to TiO2 prepared without a template