Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline TiO2 thin films

Nanocrystalline thin films of TiO2 have been synthesized by sol gel spin coating technique Thin films of TiO2 annealed at 700 A degrees C were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD), Atomic Force Microscopy, High resolution TEM and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), The XRD shows formation of tetragonal anatase and rutile phases with lattice parameters a = 3.7837 and c = 9.5087 . The surface morphology of the TiO2 films showed that the nanoparticles are fine with an average grain size of about 60 nm. Optical studies revealed a high absorption coefficient (10(4) cm(-1)) with a direct band gap of 3.24 eV. The films are of the n type conduction with room temperature electrical conductivity of 10(-6) (Omega cm)(-1).