  Pure phase and mixed phase TiO$_2$ nanoparticles have been produced using a
pyrolytic method from a non-aqueous carboxylate precursor. The precursor was
prepared by a multiphase cation exchange using pentanoic acid (C$_4$H$_9$COOH).
The thermal stability, polymorph content, morphology, size distribution and
surface region of the produced nanoparticles were studied by TGA/DSC, XRD, FTIR
and TEM. High quality monodisperse nanoparticles have been produced in the size
range from 7 to 27 nm. The nanoparticles showed room temperature ferromagnetism
revealed by VSM within bound polaron model. The carboxylate precursor is a good
alternative to standard sol-gel to produce nanoparticles free from impurities.

Materials Science