TITANIUM OXIDE AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE TITANIUM OXIDE

摘要

An object is to provide a novel anatase titanium oxide having especially high photocatalytic activity as a photocatalyst useful as a material for environmental clean-up, such as removal of toxic substances, deodorization and decomposition of malodorous substances, prevention of fouling and sterilization, and a method of producing such an anatase titanium oxide. There is provided a titanium oxide having a reflectance of 80% or lower with respect to light having a wavelength of 400 nm to 700 nm. There is also provided a method of producing an anatase titanium oxide, comprising creating pulsed plasma by an electric current of lower than 5 amperes between titanium electrodes in water to oxidize a titanium. Preferably, the titanium oxide has a percentage weight loss of 1.0% or lower when heated at a temperature within the range of 400°C to 800°C, and has the anatase structure or the anatase and rutile structures.