Preparation of ligand-free TiO2 (anatase) nanoparticles through a nonaqueous process and their surface functionalization.

We here present a new method for preparing ligand-free titania nanoparticles, which are easily amenable to surface functionalization in an aqueous environment. The specific advantage of this method is that it combines the advantages of nonaqueous synthetic processes (high crystallinity) to those of a surface functionalization in a water medium, which allows for a wider variety of biofunctional (and nonorganic-soluble) groups to be added on the nanoparticles. In particular, we report on the characterization of the three phases of synthesis, dispersion in water environment and surface functionalization of the nanoparticles, focusing on a qualitative evaluation of the surface adsorption mechanism.