Pure and La-doped titania (TiO₂) nanopowders are synthesized by sol-gel technology. The crystallite sizes determined by XRD measurements range from 10 and 15 nm. Dependence of structural and morphological characteristics of nanopowders on synthesis conditions and La³⁺ content is investigated by Raman spectroscopy. Very intensive modes observed in Raman spectra of all nanopowder samples are assigned to anatase phase of TiO₂. Additional Raman modes of extremely low intensity can be related to the presence of small amount of brookite amorphous phase in nanopowders, which is in accordance with the results of XRD structural analyses. The particle size distribution in TiO₂ nanopowders was estimated from the low frequency Raman spectra, using the fact that the phonon modes in nanosized TiO₂ observed in the low frequency region (ω < 40 cm^-1) can be well described by the elastic continuum model, assuming that nanoparticles are of perfect spherical shape and isotropic. The nanosized particle distribution obtained by this method is used for the calculation of the frequency and shape of the most intensive E_g Raman mode in anatase TiO₂ by the phonon confinement model. The calculated broadening of this mode, associated with the particle size distribution, coincides well with the characteristics of E_g mode observed in measured Raman spectra of TiO₂ nanopowders. This confirms the Raman spectroscopy method as a powerful tool for determination of particle size distribution in nanosized materials.

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