Sol–gel combustion is a novel method, with a unique combination of the chemical sol–gel process and the combustion process. Sol–gel combustion method is based on the gelling and subsequent combustion of an aqueous solution containing salts of the desired metals and inorganic fuel like acetylene black, giving a voluminous and fluffy product with a large surface area. This process has the advantages of inexpensive precursors, a simple preparation method, and a resulting nano-sized powder.
TiO₂ has been widely used in various devices such as dye solar cells, photocatalysts, photochromic glasses, self-cleaning of windows, and gas sensors. TiO₂ nano-powders were synthesized employing a new route sol-gel combustion hybrid method using acetylene black as a fuel. The dried gels exhibited auto-catalytic combustion behavior. Anatase structure TiO₂ nano-powders with narrow size distribution were obtained at 400 ~ 600^oC. Crystal structures were examined by powder X-ray diffraction and particle morphology as well as crystal size was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The size of nano-powder was found to be in the range of 10 nm to 20 nm. TiO₂ powders synthesized at 500^oC and 600^oC were applied to dye solar cell. A solar energy to electricity conversion efficiency of 5.2% was attained under AM 1.5 irradiation (100mW/cm²) using a novel TiO₂ nano-powder synthesized by sol-gel combustion hybrid method at 500^oC.