Effect of TiO2 crystallite size on the dispersion of Co on nanocrystalline TiO2

Nanocrystalline TiO₂ powders with average crystallite sizes of 9–15 nm were synthesized by the solvothermal method and employed as supports for Co catalysts. The value of H₂ chemisorption/specific surface area of Co/TiO₂ increased significantly with increasing TiO₂ crystallite size. It was suggested that the higher amount of Ti³⁺ surface defects on the larger crystalline TiO₂ resulted in a stronger interaction between Co and TiO₂, hence, higher dispersion of Co was obtained.