Mechanism of the inhibiting effect of phosphate on the anatase → rutile transformation induced by thermal and mechanical treatment of TiO2

Abstract

The effect of phosphate on the anatase → rutile transformation has been studied. The conclusion has been reached that the polymorphic transformation takes place through the nucleation of rutile on the surface of TiO2 when the oxide undergoes either thermal or mechanical treatment. The phosphate strongly inhibits the anatase → rutile conversion through a mechanism that implies its chemisorption on TiO2 as a bidentate ligand which hinders the surface ionic mobility.