Density 998 kg/m³ | ChemSpider ID 20491 | |
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Titanium butoxide is an organometallic chemical compound with the formula Ti(OBu)4 (Bu = CH2CH2CH2CH3). It is a colorless to pale-yellow liquid with a weak alcohol-like odor and density almost equal to that of water. It is soluble in most organic solvents, but decomposes in water and reacts violently with oxidizing materials. Decomposition in water is not hazardous, and therefore titanium butoxide is often used as a liquid source of titanium dioxide, which allows deposition of TiO2 coatings of various shapes and sizes down to the nanoscale.
Reactions and hazard
Titanium butoxide is produced by reacting titanium tetrachloride with butanol. When mixed with water it decomposes to titanium dioxide and butanol. This decomposition is not hazardous, and is often used as a source of titanium dioxide.
Titanium butoxide is a corrosive, flammable liquid incompatible with oxidizing materials. It reacts violently with sulfuric and nitric acid, inorganic hydroxides and peroxides, bases, amines, amides, isocyanates and boranes. It is irritating to skin and eyes, and causes nausea and vomiting if swallowed. LD50 is 3122 mg/kg (rat, oral) and 180 mg/kg (mouse, intravenal); flash point is 77 °C. When heated it emits irritating fumes, which form explosive mixtures with air at concentrations above 2 vol%.