Use of cassava starch (tapioca) in the synthesis of nanosized titanium dioxide: Evidence for the stabilization of anatase and rutile phases

This investigation presents a novel procedure for synthesizing titanium dioxide (TiO2) using cassava starch (tapioca) as an additive. Two samples were prepared for comparison: one synthesized with tapioca (TiO2-T) and the other without it (TiO2). Both were calcined at temperatures ranging from 500 °...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Willians Lopes de Almeida, Felipe Antônio Lucca Sanchéz, Fabiano Severo Rodembusch, Vânia Caldas de Sousa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Next Materials
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949822825003156
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Summary:This investigation presents a novel procedure for synthesizing titanium dioxide (TiO2) using cassava starch (tapioca) as an additive. Two samples were prepared for comparison: one synthesized with tapioca (TiO2-T) and the other without it (TiO2). Both were calcined at temperatures ranging from 500 °C to 800 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that tapioca inhibited the formation of the rutile phase in TiO2-T at 600 °C, while the anatase phase persisted at all temperatures in TiO2-T, with varying percentages (10–100 %). In contrast, anatase was only present up to 600 °C in the TiO2 sample, accounting for 90 % at that temperature. UVVis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRUV) data showed a decrease in bandgap values in both samples with increasing calcination temperature. Photoluminescence (PL) analysis, performed on samples calcined at 600 °C, suggested that TiO2-T exhibited a lower charge carrier recombination rate, indicating better photocatalytic potential. This study underscores the use of tapioca as a natural, renewable additive and suggests this environmentally friendly approach could inspire further research in sustainable material development.
ISSN:2949-8228