We report a simple and inexpensive synthesis route of TiO2 nanoparticles using electrical arc discharge between titanium electrodes in oxygen bubbled deionized (DI) water followed by heat treatment. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD patterns demonstrate formation of TiO2 phase in oxygen bubbled water after heat treatment and dominance of rutile to anatase phase. The size and morphology of TiO2 nanoparticles were studied using different arc currents as a crucial parameter in properties of final product. Microscopic studies reveal nanosize spherical particles. DLS results indicate that at 20 A arc current, the size of the particles is about 37 nm and increases to 59 nm by increasing the arc current up to 40 A. Photodegradation of Rhodamine B (Rh. B) as a standard pollution shows that heat treated samples in oxygen bubbled water for 2 h at 500 °C, have more photocatalytic activity due to enhancement in crystallinity.
