Mechanochemical synthesis of nanocrystalline titanium monoxide

Abstract

Nanocrystalline cubic titanium monoxide, TiOx (0.92 < x < 1.19), with mean crystallite size of ≈ 6 nm, was synthesized by mechanochemical treatment of Ti and TiO2 (rutile) powder mixtures with molar ratios of 1:1, 1.10:1 and 1.25:1. The mechanochemical solid state reaction in a high-energy planetary ball mill was completed for 2 h in either air or argon atmosphere. During heating in vacuum at 900 and 1000 °C for 24 h, nanocrystalline TiOx transforms to a well-crystallized, cubic or monoclinic TiOx. The materials prepared were characterized by XRPD, TGA/DSC and SEM/EDS analysis. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.