Reaction mechanism and kinetics analysis of the phase transformation of TiO₂ from the anatase phase to the rutile phase

Abstract

The kinetic mechanism of the phase transformation of TiO₂ from the anatase phase to the rutile phase was investigated. TiO₂ powders were prepared with different pH value of the starting solution via the thermal hydrolysis method in this study. The pH values of the starting solutions have significant effects on the phase transformation temperatures of the thermal hydrolysis reaction. As the reaction temperatures were raised, the conversion from the anatase phase to the rutile phase was increased. A core–shell morphology of the prepared TiO₂ samples was suggested via the signals of the anatase phase and the rutile phase in UV–vis spectrum analysis. Through the isothermal heating process of the reaction kinetics, the controlling reaction in the phase transformation process from the anatase phase to the rutile phase was determined to be the three-dimensional phase boundary controlled process. The activation energy of the phase transformation was increased with an increase in the pH value of the starting solution.