Nanocrystalline titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) of anatase structure was prepared by a hydrolysis process of tetrabutyl titanate. The microstructures were examined by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The TiO 2 nanocrystals with particle sizes from 6.8 to 27.9 nm were obtained through an annealing treatment of the as-prepared nanocrystals at various temperatures. Photoluminescence (PL) properties of TiO 2 nanocrystals were investigated at various annealing temperatures (particle sizes), exciting powers, and exciting photon energies, respectively. The strongest visible emission was observed in the nanocrystals annealed at 300 C, with a particle size of 7.9 nm. The experimental results manifested that the visible PL arises from a radiative recombination of electrons via intrinsic surface states of TiO 2 nanoparticles.
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