Synthesis and Characterization of MgO, TiO2 Nanoparticles, and Their Mixed Oxides

Ali, Sayeda S.; AbuelReesh, Gaber M.; Fadda, Ahmed A.; Abdelhafez, Mahmoud; Mubarak, Mahmoud F.

doi:10.21608/mjcc.2024.411382

Synthesis and Characterization of MgO, TiO2 Nanoparticles, and Their Mixed Oxides

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura Egypt

² Military Technical College JW+3XR, Ismail Al Fangari, El-Qobba Bridge, El Weili, Cairo, Egypt

³ Petroleum Application Department, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/mjcc.2024.411382

Abstract

In this study, we report on the synthesis and characterization of MgO, TiO₂, nanoparticles, and their mixed oxide. The nanoparticles were synthesized using a sol-gel method with the respective metal alkoxides as precursors, followed by calcination at different temperatures. The morphology, structure, and composition of the nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). XRD analysis revealed that the MgO nanoparticles had a cubic crystal structure, while the TiO₂ nanoparticles were in the anatase phase. The mixed oxide nanoparticles showed a combination of both structures. TEM images showed that the nanoparticles were spherical in shape with an average diameter of 20-30 nm. FT-IR spectra showed the presence of characteristic functional groups on the surface of the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were also evaluated for their photocatalytic activity using the degradation of methylene blue dye as a model reaction. The mixed oxide nanoparticles showed higher photocatalytic activity compared to the individual nanoparticles. The results suggest that the synthesis of mixed oxide nanoparticles of MgO and TiO₂ could lead to improved properties and enhanced photocatalytic activity. The synthesized nanoparticles could have potential applications in various fields, such as environmental remediation, energy conversion, and biomedical engineering. Our study provides valuable insights into the synthesis and characterization of mixed oxide nanoparticles and highlights their potential for various applications.

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